Dog Information

I want to get a dog but I don't want to buy it from a pet store or breeder, what should I do?

I am against breeding because of the conditions that the mothers/fathers of the puppies are kept in and also because I think it is horrible to take away puppies from a mother dog. But I do want a pet dog for myself and I want to rescue it from the animal shelter or the pound. I either want a German Shepherd, Golden Retriever or Labrador Retriever. What steps should I take in order to find the right dog for me?

Public Comments

1. try looking at petfinder.com they have tons of dogs on there when you see a few you like go meet them and talk to the shelter workers to see if there a good fit for you good luck
2. go to petfinder.com and look at all the great dogs for adoption near you just type in your zip code never buy from petstores or over the internet these dogs come from puppy mills and are usually unhealthy but you could go to a reputable breeder and get a puppy but i think you should deff. adopt one there are lots of German Shepherd, Golden Retriever or Labrador Retriever puppies and adults in shelters
3. Go to the shelter. One of those dogs may be waiting for you. If not, you can put your name on a list and when one comes to the shelter, they will call you. Ask if you can have a "one month foster " agreement. If you and the dog are compatible, then you will adopt it. If not, you can return to the shelter.
4. adopt one
5. buy the mom (when she doesn't have any babies) from a breeder. they are the best and make sure the dogs aren't sick.
6. Easy. Go to the animal shelter and have a look. I got my last pet there. I went in and it was wonderfull. All those animal vying for your attention. I called my dad and he said 'just one honey, just one' I laughed cause he knew I would have wanted them all. I adopted and it was one fee of like $82 and it included shots and neutering, microchip and license.
7. Pound puppy!
8. there are lots of unwanted animals at the shelters that you can adopt. try also looking in the newspaper for you area. if u know the breed of dog you are looking for, then just look for the breed in the paper or the shelter.. i honeslty dont know what your problem is in this question.. it's like my kid talkin for no reason.. just to hear himself talk.
9. you should really go to a shelter..save a dogs from being killed....you will know when you see the dog for you....all the breeds you named are great dogs...good luck in finding you compainion....
10. Puppies do not fall out of the sky. They all originally come from a breeder. Where does everyone think that they come from? If you want a shelter animal, fine get one and you will save a life. But how do you know how they were raised? What the parents were like? When you buy from a breeder, you can check all of this out personally. I guess people think dogs are found under cabbages in a cabbage patch or something. Reputable breeders are not the reason the shelters are full, irresponsible owners who let their dogs breed indiscriminately are the reason and irresponsible people who get the dogs and then grow tired of them and take them to a shelter or dump them on the side of the road.. Those are the reason the shelters are full. Sure there are a lot of irresponsible breeders out there, but there are some good ones too if you take the time and effort o find one.
11. Here is the deal. The Mother Dog wants to get rid of the pups. It is nature. Not all breeders keep there Dogs in horrible conditions. The Dogs at the shelter have usually been mistreated or abandoned. This makes a dog unstable. What ever you choose to do remember this if nothing else: Let the dog/pup choose you!!! That means they are willing to become part of "Your Pack" and will make a wonderful dog just for you.
12. go to your local animal shelter.The dogs your are considering require a large yard. Do you have it ? They also have large appetite. Can you afford it ? There are alot of things to think about when you get an animal
13. Talk to the local rescue center or pound. You could even look in the paper or on the trading post. You would have to be pretty lucky to get a full bred form a pound or rescue center. But you just have to ask.
14. You shouldn't get a dog at all if you think it's so terrible to take pups away from mom-you have a pack mindset, and I completely agree... but getting a dog would be tearing the pack apart, yes? Also, what you're talking about is backyard breeders. People who truly love their breeds and devote a lot of their time and lives to it are -breeders-. They take their pups back if something happens and only allow people who will -truly- love the dog to make it part of their family.
15. How can you be so against breeders yet say that you want one of these three purebred dogs? Good breeders treat their dogs VERY well, and by the time the puppies are ready to go, the mother dog is more than ready to get away from them! You can do your research and find a good breeder to make sure you aren't supporting a puppy mill. But anyhow, adopting a dog from a shelter is a very good idea too. They are good dogs that need goos homes too. But you'll probably end up with a mixed-breed dog. Don't just pick the cutest dog, or the one that jumps at you, or the one that is "all by himself in the corner." You should go to the shelter, look at the dogs, read the info they have available about them, then if you see one you think you might like, ask the shelter staff if you can take the dog outside. Hopefully they have a fenced in area to allow this. Spend a lot of time with the dog, give it time to explore, potty, and stretch its legs. Take a toy from its cage or bring one with you and see if the dog will play fetch for a while. A lot of shelter dogs don't have a lot of opportunity to exercise, so they will be really hyper and overly excited, you need to play with them for a bit to get them a little tired and calmed down to where their true personality comes out. (If the shelter does a good job of exercising the dogs, you won't have this problem. You'll know when you walk in and the dogs are quiet that they've been exercised.) Anyhow, play with the dog, hang out, try teaching it a command or two to see if your personalities mesh. If it seems a good fit, then apply to adopt the dog. It will probably take a couple of days for the paperwork and the dog's spay/neuter if required, during which time you can sleep on it and make sure it really is the dog you want. If the dog doesn't seem right for you, put it back inside and ask to see another one. If none of the dogs seem to be a good match, leave and come back in a few days or next week. They get more dogs all the time, and it is better to wait a few days and get the "perfect" dog for you, than to get one that's not quite what you wanted, and it never fits in to your family and you end up bringing it back to the shelter.
16. Go to a no kill animal shelter this means that they don't kill their animals if they can't find them a home. Keep your options open. Don't look for a specific breed. You seem to want a big dog. A lovable dog is the weimaraner. Look for a weimaraner mix they are sweet dogs and will love you to death and they are big dogs.
17. Well you already know you want to rescue a dog...sooo go the spca in your area and there you can pick and choose one for yourself....you get to play and get to know it a bit befor you decide on what one you feel most comfortable with......good luck to you and whatever dog you do choose will be very happy and greatful...
18. Investigate about pet adoption in your area. I think your are too focused on breed and should remain open to other posibilities. Some mixed breeds tend to be abandoned and when adopted they become the best friends and guardians that can be. God bless you for doing this.
19. please don't buy from a pet store, that's just saying to puppy mills that they can keep on breeding. you can look up rescue groups in your state by putting the dog breed and your state in your search engine ex: German Shepard rescue groups Indiana
20. well first read books about them to see if there right for you. Then go to petfinder put dog as your pet type of breed gender and your zipcode it will give you the closest resque group that has you breed. hoped that helped a lot.
21. Check out local rescue groups for the breeds you mentioned. An internet search of "German Shepherd and rescue" along with your city should bring back some results. The Humane Society often has many great dogs but it will be more difficult to find a pure bred Golden or Shepherd.
22. NEVER buy from a pet store, no matter how well-kept the puppies seem. Responsible and reputable breeders are wonderful people to get puppies from, but it takes time and research to find a good breeder. You also have to learn how to tell an irresponsible backyard breeder from a responsible breeder. I would recommend checking out http://www.petfinder.com and local shelters to find the breeds your looking for. There are also breed specific rescues. You can try googling a German Shepherd rescue and see what turns up.
23. Call the local shelters and look at the dogs which are available; see if they are what you are looking for; age, temperment, personality, etc. Spend a little time with the ones of interest and then make up your mind. You can read about the different breeds online and see what health issues you should be aware of; check on their life expectancy, how they get along with children and others, and see if they are paper trained, outdoor trained or have accidents in the house. You need to know all of these things to really know which one will fit your needs. Will you be home a lot; can you spend time with your dog and will he have problems if you aren't able to be there? Ask lots of questions and then go to the shelter and save a dog's life; you will feel good for having done it and gain a friend for life. I have a boxer who is a rescue dog and he is the joy of my life. He had a bad start when he got abandoned and now he is the king of our home; he will never have another sad moment and he will feel love until his last breath on this earth.
24. There are a lot of websites that tell you what you should look for in a breed. For instance, (and obviously) if you live in a small apartment with a lot of neighbors, a German Shepard or other large breed may not be right for you. If you have indoor allergies, you may want to go with a breed known for limited shedding. If you have children, or small children visit your house, you may want to consider a breed known for interacting with children well. Check out some of the resources below to make sure you're getting the right size/temperament etc. and then start looking at shelters and in the newspaper, etc. If you want a puppy, you will need to think about housebreaking it, teaching it not to chew your things etc., but if you adopt a dog that is already housebroken your challenges may be fewer. Often, people who are moving to a new city, have had a new baby, or otherwise can no longer care for their dog put ads in the paper looking for a good home - these are typically great dogs in unfortunate situations. Remember, you don't have to take home the first dog you see, look around and the right one will pick you!
25. You are not against breeding, you are against backyard breeders and puppy mills. More power to you. Keep in mind, though, that reputable breeders CARE about their dogs and the puppies they produce. They select dogs based on temperment and health and only breed what they feel are the best of the breed. That aside, you want to rescue a dog.. THANK YOU! There are many rescue agencies around the country. You didn't specify where you live, so I can't give you specifics, but Petfinder.com IS a good place to start. You can see all the homeless pooches in your area, or any other area by doing a zip code search. All of the dogs on Petfinder are shelter or rescue dogs and would love to have a home. Many breed rescues put there dogs on there too, so you might just find a GSD or retriever rescue in the area that. I hope you are choosing your breed on more than just looks. While labs are pretty easy going dogs and very smart. A german shepherd is not to be taken lightly. They have gained quite a bad reputation due to being owned by people who are not ready for them. GSDs are highly intelligent and need LOTS of excercise, both physical AND mental. A bored GSD can and will eat your house if left to it's own devices. But with proper training and excersice they can be the greatest pet you've ever owned. I have one myself, 15 month old female... I wouldn't trade her for all the money in the world! However you choose, congratulations on your new family member and THANK YOU for helping a forgotten friend find a new home. May you and your pup spend many happy years together.
26. There are so many dogs out there that need loving homes. Check out your local shelters and you could also look on www.petfinder.com You can also check out the "pets" area on your local Craigslist website. There a lots of foster families on there looking to place dogs with new Forever Homes. Make sure to spend some time with the dog before you decide to adopt it. I'm sure any dog will love you for being the one to rescue it. Good Luck!
27. I would like to invite you to post your question at my web site. I maintain a site at yahoo groups called Homes For Homeless Pets. You can also post there if you are looking for a certain kind of pet. It is at http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/HomesForHomelessPets/ . Hope you find what you are looking for.
28. I would say check out your local animal shelter. There are so many great dogs and puppies that are unwanted. They need your love the same and any pet you would get from pet-finder, breeders or stores. Go check the out. I to am looking for a puppy and I am on my way to the shelter to take a look. Good luck in finding a furry friend. your friend, pet lover (uni5899)
29. go to an animal shelter because you are saving a dogs life. i got a golden retriver from our local animal shelter and he was only $80 thats including the shots, and getting him fixed, and the dog.
30. Many areas have rescue organizations for the breeds that you are interested in. You can find them on petfinders.com. Often these dogs are in foster homes and the foster parents can tell you something about a dog's personality and temperament. Finding the right dog for you depends upon your lifestyle and personality. Please learn all that you can about the breeds that you are interested in before making a decision. All breeds have their pros and cons. Could be that a lovable mutt will be the right breed for you! No matter what dog you choose, it is an investment of time and energy that will pay dividends in years of love and companionship.
31. ok, ready? If people's dogs did not have puppies, no one would be able to get a puppy. If YOU get a puppy it will be taken away from its mother. Believe it or not, the mother dog actually is relieved when the puppies go on their own. It is nature. Babies leave their mothers... (yeah, I know, mostly) Nextly, seriously, listen up. It is definition, choice of words...but there is a difference between a "breeder" and a "puppy producer". The true, real, responsible breeder of purebred dogs...it is a love, a science, a desire to better the breed. A breeder has spent years and years researching their breed, buying books, talking to old-time breeders, traveling throughout the country to shows studying different lines. They have carefully selected breeding stock produced from proven Champions, and many that have obedience, hunting, agility, rally titles as well, proving the dogs" athleticism anad brains and instinct. They breed with the intention of keeping a puppy which is better than the mother or father, to continue the family line...to show. Breeders spend a LOT of money on their dogs! Health checks, tests, the best of food...training fees, showing fees...lots of supplements, toys, grooming supplies...secure, clean kennel yards. A show dog can not be successful in the show ring if it is kept in a small crate in its own feces. It will not be clean, healthy, happy or be able to gait properly around the ring. Show dogs needs a lot of care and exercising. Breeders work VERY hard to get their puppies into a good home, the right home. They usually wait until a pup is around 8 weeks so it has received the proper sibling socialization. These pups have been handled and played with a lot. They have been brushed, their toenails trimmed. Many will have been wearing collars already, and some partially leash trained. And check out the puppy pen! toys, balls, cardboard boxes to climb into, little platforms to climb onto...a lot of fun stuff for investigating! The breeder will not feel badly turning away a puppy buyer if they feel the buyer does not have a secure yard, will not have the time to spend with the puppy, doesn't have the money for health care. Many breeders insist the buyer take the puppy to training classes to ensure the buyer will learn to understand how to train the puppy properly. They give a vaccination records, and calendar of when next shots and wormings are due. They hand out pamphlets on care and training as well as send home at least a couple of days of puppy food. Many will withold registration papers until they receive proof of spay/neuter from a vet...because the pup is being sold as "pet" quality, not "breeding" quality and they want to make sure ignorant people do not.... breed to Fido down the street who is dysplastic, has VWD, and epilepsy and decide to sell the puppies for $1500 because they are teacup Fidofoos....either to pet shops or over the internet and ship the puppy when it is 5 weeks old on an airplane to someone they have never met DO NOT buy from a pet store!!!!! Pet stores are supplied by puppy producers. Now........all 3 breeds are LOVELY dogs! Good choices! (and I don't have them! see? I AM being honest!) Now..as to the German Shepherd......and they are one of my favorite breeds! Be very careful. They are notorious for hip-dysplasia. When you look, find a kennel that is breeding "working" dogs as opposed to just conformation. A GSD should be able to run, as well as trot. Believe it or not, many "show dogs" can't run! Do searches on the www as Golden Retriever breeders (state you live) or Gol Ret clubs (state where you live) look in newspapers, look at online classifieds for your area find shows in your area: akc.org for conformation, obedience, agility read the "standard" for the breed research what health problems may be typical for each breed make a list of questions to ask the breeder: tests done on parents to detect if they have a disorder (hips: OFA eyes: CERF, etc) ask if they show their dogs, conformation, obedience? GO SEE THE PUPS IN PERSON DO NOT BUY SIGHT UNSEEN DO NOT BUY FROM A PETSHOP uuuuuuu...ok I am tired now. Do, spend a lot of time researching....it is SO well worth it! and good luck to you
32. go get one from a shelter. so many animals need to be adopted. i got a pure bred black lab for 50.00 the fee was smalle and benfits the shelter.also cause he had been fixed. he is a great joy to have around the house. so you know its only up to you. its a life time long bond with animal.
33. First research the breeds in question. Answer the following questions truthfully. Do I have time for this new addition to my family? Do I have room for this breed? Will I be able to be a responsible parent and take my new pet to the vet for proper vaccinations ect....?