Family pooch suggestions
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Reputable breeders don't contribute to the devesating over population problem of more and more mixed breed dogs. There are millions of them being euthanized every day around the world in shelters. Reputable breeders breed purebred dogs to keep them uniform, according to standard....so that we will have purebred dogs...which are designed for specific purposes. Reputable breeders breed purebred dogs as closely to standard as possible....and so they can do the job they were bred to do. They do genetic health testing on their breeding dogs to strive to eliminate the many, many health issues most breeds have. Because of the extraordinary care and costs they incur, responsible breeders don't make much, if any money. They do it out of the love of their breed and to ensure that the next generation is an improvement upon the last.
People who throw two different breeds together are breeding gimmicks and selling them to make a proffit. You can find a mixed breed in any shelter or rescue. You can find these "designer" breeds in any shelter. The "greeders" utilize NONE of the science it takes to match up compatible breeding pairs. They should not be supported at all. And that means not buying from pet stores or any of these advertised designer breeds in the newspaper or Internet.
And to think masculinity has anything to do with Poodles is a misconception. Poodles are great hunting dogs...retrievers. What's more masculine than hunting? Poodles are also 2nd on many lists of studies on intelligence....2nd after border collies. I've had German Shepherds, Labrador, Lab mix, a Doberman and presently, what we think is a Pitbull mix. (well, that's my son's dog but she lives with me) I also have Chihuahuas. My next dog, if there is a next dog will most likely be a poodle. (either a standard or miniature) I love super smart, easy to train, easy to socialize dogs with lots of pep. They do have their share of health issues, so be sure to research that with any breed or known mix.
I think an older Lab might be just the ticket too. Or one that has a calmer personality. Mine did...even as a pup. She was quite laid back and just a wonderful family dog.
People who throw two different breeds together are breeding gimmicks and selling them to make a proffit. You can find a mixed breed in any shelter or rescue. You can find these "designer" breeds in any shelter. The "greeders" utilize NONE of the science it takes to match up compatible breeding pairs. They should not be supported at all. And that means not buying from pet stores or any of these advertised designer breeds in the newspaper or Internet.
And to think masculinity has anything to do with Poodles is a misconception. Poodles are great hunting dogs...retrievers. What's more masculine than hunting? Poodles are also 2nd on many lists of studies on intelligence....2nd after border collies. I've had German Shepherds, Labrador, Lab mix, a Doberman and presently, what we think is a Pitbull mix. (well, that's my son's dog but she lives with me) I also have Chihuahuas. My next dog, if there is a next dog will most likely be a poodle. (either a standard or miniature) I love super smart, easy to train, easy to socialize dogs with lots of pep. They do have their share of health issues, so be sure to research that with any breed or known mix.
I think an older Lab might be just the ticket too. Or one that has a calmer personality. Mine did...even as a pup. She was quite laid back and just a wonderful family dog.
Interesting I just go looking for a dog but now have entered into a community that obviously has some very strong (justified, of course) opinions about things I never really thought about. Looks like I have lots of reading/research to do. This is going to be a slow/thought-out decision and I want to be sure my family and I are properly prepared.
I'm wondering why nobody up to this point has suggested a cocker spaniel...?
I'm wondering why nobody up to this point has suggested a cocker spaniel...?
You are wise to spend some time learning, not only about various breeds, but about training, nutrition, health and any other aspect about dogs.
I don't know why no one mentioned Cocker spaniels.
One thing you could do too, is go to some dog shows where you can walk around and see lots of breeds, talk to owners when they're not just about to go into the ring...see what they say, interact with their dogs....that is...if you're looking at purebred dogs. Or better yet, some working trials. Some of the show dogs, not all, but some have been damaged in that they are unable to do the job they were bred to do. Some of the breeds have been judged with too much emphasis on looks which were not in the orignial standard, I guess. And they've evolved into versions of the breed that can no longer aptly do their job. For example....imo, AKC, because of how they have judged have ruined German Shepherds among others. They're so extremely angulated and so full of skeletal problems, it's pathetic. They are no longer the strong, wonderful trotters they use to be. Temperament too, seems to be unlike that of my old fashion GSDs I use to have. They seem skittish, nervous and weak. This was my observation at one of the last shows I went to. Like I said, not all. But if people want to win in the show ring, they have to keep up with the Jones's and that often means screwing around with once sound breeds. If you go to working trials and the dogs can do well what they were bred to do, that is what is important because, as was discussed in another thread, form follows function. And that is so very true. The looks MUST follow the functionality of a dog...not the other way around.
And of course, research on the Internet and books. I researched my last breed, my Dobe for at least a year before I started my search. That may be more than is needed, but I wanted to make sure I was doing the right thing. Getting a dog, to me is a life long commitment and that's a VERY serious matter.
I don't know why no one mentioned Cocker spaniels.
One thing you could do too, is go to some dog shows where you can walk around and see lots of breeds, talk to owners when they're not just about to go into the ring...see what they say, interact with their dogs....that is...if you're looking at purebred dogs. Or better yet, some working trials. Some of the show dogs, not all, but some have been damaged in that they are unable to do the job they were bred to do. Some of the breeds have been judged with too much emphasis on looks which were not in the orignial standard, I guess. And they've evolved into versions of the breed that can no longer aptly do their job. For example....imo, AKC, because of how they have judged have ruined German Shepherds among others. They're so extremely angulated and so full of skeletal problems, it's pathetic. They are no longer the strong, wonderful trotters they use to be. Temperament too, seems to be unlike that of my old fashion GSDs I use to have. They seem skittish, nervous and weak. This was my observation at one of the last shows I went to. Like I said, not all. But if people want to win in the show ring, they have to keep up with the Jones's and that often means screwing around with once sound breeds. If you go to working trials and the dogs can do well what they were bred to do, that is what is important because, as was discussed in another thread, form follows function. And that is so very true. The looks MUST follow the functionality of a dog...not the other way around.
And of course, research on the Internet and books. I researched my last breed, my Dobe for at least a year before I started my search. That may be more than is needed, but I wanted to make sure I was doing the right thing. Getting a dog, to me is a life long commitment and that's a VERY serious matter.
Probably the reason no one mentioned a Cocker Spaniel is because it can be SO difficult to find good breeders. They have had several unfortunate periods of rampant popularity and that can do terrible things to a breed.
We have a member here, Brattina, who fosters Cocker Spaniels for a rescue. She might be able to help you.
I've had numerous rescued dogs -- the Filas are the first "breeder" dogs I've had since I got my first Terrier at age 3, lol. I can't say enough good about adopting a dog. None of mine have come from fosters -- they've all either been from some good soul who happens to have a place where people dump dogs, the local pound, or in my APBT's case, she came from the vet after her people couldn't pay the bill for her parvo treatment (don't get me started on that . . . I love her and I am thrilled no end to have her and she fits in with my other two as if she were born to be part of our family, but I can't help but feel awful for her first family . . . ) But, back to the part about adopting: I've never had one iota of trouble from a rescued dog, not even the big GSD/Akita cross who, at five years old, had been allowed to grow up running loose through the neighborhood and never had one bit of training. Everyone told me he was going to be hard to deal with, lol . . . Absurdly strong and hard headed. I never had to train him either; just asked him what I wanted him to do politely and that was all it ever took.
We have a member here, Brattina, who fosters Cocker Spaniels for a rescue. She might be able to help you.
I've had numerous rescued dogs -- the Filas are the first "breeder" dogs I've had since I got my first Terrier at age 3, lol. I can't say enough good about adopting a dog. None of mine have come from fosters -- they've all either been from some good soul who happens to have a place where people dump dogs, the local pound, or in my APBT's case, she came from the vet after her people couldn't pay the bill for her parvo treatment (don't get me started on that . . . I love her and I am thrilled no end to have her and she fits in with my other two as if she were born to be part of our family, but I can't help but feel awful for her first family . . . ) But, back to the part about adopting: I've never had one iota of trouble from a rescued dog, not even the big GSD/Akita cross who, at five years old, had been allowed to grow up running loose through the neighborhood and never had one bit of training. Everyone told me he was going to be hard to deal with, lol . . . Absurdly strong and hard headed. I never had to train him either; just asked him what I wanted him to do politely and that was all it ever took.
Mixing of dog breeds and selling them as a new "breed" is a fad. It started with a legitimate need, they wanted Lab/poodle mixes as guide dogs that were hypoallergenic. Poodles hadn't turned out to be the best guide dogs but Labs were and Poodles are hypoallergenic. Unfortunately the rest of the world decided to breed them too and then everyone decided to mix all breeds to all other breeds and give them odd names. The reason for this was money, people like to buy new things, if they could get one of those "new" breeds they would and would make a breeder rich. Almost NOBODY is breeding these mixed breeds responsibly, they are doing it for fun or money.
If you are okay with getting a mixed breed dog go to a shelter or rescue and save a life, support something good with your money. The only reason one should go to a breeder is for a predictable dog, when you get a purebred you know the breed's traits, what he will look like for the most part and what temperament he will have for the most part (if you go to a responsible breeder who is proving their dogs are proper for the breed by showing, working, getting temperament tests, having therapy dogs, etc.). Because Cocker Spaniel Poodle mixes are mixes, not breeds, so they have no standard temperament you can expect, no standard coat (might shed like a cocker spaniel not a poodle, might have an in between coat), no standard body or anything. I just don't understand why you'd go to a breeder for the same quality dog (by quality I mean predictability, I could get the same unknown puppy from a shelter) and support someone who is bringing shelter quality dogs (with no predictability or health testing) into an over populated world, these breeders have no goals for their breed like the original working mixes (mixing for better hunters or for better sled dogs) or the original lab/poodle mixes (mix for hypoallergenic guide dogs).
I never got back to you after you mentioned that you thought a puppy would be easier, no bad habits to work on. It really depends. You will have "problems" to work on- housebreaking, chewing, mouthing and other puppy things. Most people who do get puppies STILL end up not doing the prevention things needed to stop bad habits and still end up with dogs who jump, pull on the leash, steal food, bark, etc. I mean how many people take their little 10 pounds puppies out with treats on walks and teach them to walk near them, how many people worry about a dog jumping on them that doesn't reach the knee yet or teaches the dog to sit during greeting times if he doesn't jump up yet, who teaches a dog to stay several feet away from the kitchen table, on a mat, or in a different room while the people eat if the dog doesn't beg or steal yet? The answer is pretty much nobody but some dogs trainers. They wait until the problem occurs or actually starts to bother them. So in the end, statistically speaking, you will still have to deal with all the bad habits of an adult shelter dog. The only exception would be dealing with problems stemming from abuse because hopefully you will not be abusing your dog or using Cesar Millan methods on him.
BUT if you want a puppy that's fine, there are plenty of those in shelters too (and you've already shown you are okay with mutts and not knowing how they will turn out as an adult because you mentioned designer breeds several times). If you DO use preventative measure and address problems before they start then you will be saving yourself a lot of frustration, the point I was making before was that most people go get puppies so they can start with a clean slate and end up with a dog who has horrible bad habits anyways because they don't do anything to stop them before they start. but you can.
Also keep in mind not all shelter dogs have bad habits. I volunteer at a dog rescue, the biggest bad habit we get is jumping up followed by leash pulling, other than that we don't get much. All our dogs were strays though. A lot of shelters get owner turn ins, some lived in good homes but their owners died, got cancer, went to war, got allergies, etc. and did not not care about the dog or give the dog up for bad habits. the nice thing about adult dogs is what you see is what you get, you don't have to wait two years for him to grow up and hope he's what you wanted. You'll know if he will be a good jogger, if he likes kids, if he's good with small animals, if his coat sheds heavily or not, if he likes to bark, if he's clingy or not, etc.
What is also nice is adult dogs tend to be more ready to learn. They have a longer attention span and are physically capable of being housebroken already (most of the adults at my rescue, because they were strays are not housebroken but they are not babies who are incapable of holding it or learning to right now). I'm the type who will always want adults (I think
).
ANYWAY, sorry to get so lengthy and preachy, I tend to do that I'm gonna look on petfinder some more, maybe there will be some poodle mixes that you like, whatever they mix with might get them a more manly look. I think a lot of people assumed you wanted a large dog for a few reasons: You didn't like the idea of poodles, weren't manly enough, some people don't consider any small dogs manly.
You wanted a dog good in snow/hard winters and a lot of small dogs are not (not sure about cockers though).
You wanted a jogging partner, terriers could be good small joggers (but are otherwise a handful), again I'm not sure about cockers, hopefully some cocker owners will chime in.
If you really want a dog from a breeder then you'll want a purebred, that way you'll know what you are getting. If you are not picky then we'll find you a good shelter/rescue mutt or purebred.
I also commend you for doing your research before running out and getting a dog, it'll be worth it in the end.
If you are okay with getting a mixed breed dog go to a shelter or rescue and save a life, support something good with your money. The only reason one should go to a breeder is for a predictable dog, when you get a purebred you know the breed's traits, what he will look like for the most part and what temperament he will have for the most part (if you go to a responsible breeder who is proving their dogs are proper for the breed by showing, working, getting temperament tests, having therapy dogs, etc.). Because Cocker Spaniel Poodle mixes are mixes, not breeds, so they have no standard temperament you can expect, no standard coat (might shed like a cocker spaniel not a poodle, might have an in between coat), no standard body or anything. I just don't understand why you'd go to a breeder for the same quality dog (by quality I mean predictability, I could get the same unknown puppy from a shelter) and support someone who is bringing shelter quality dogs (with no predictability or health testing) into an over populated world, these breeders have no goals for their breed like the original working mixes (mixing for better hunters or for better sled dogs) or the original lab/poodle mixes (mix for hypoallergenic guide dogs).
I never got back to you after you mentioned that you thought a puppy would be easier, no bad habits to work on. It really depends. You will have "problems" to work on- housebreaking, chewing, mouthing and other puppy things. Most people who do get puppies STILL end up not doing the prevention things needed to stop bad habits and still end up with dogs who jump, pull on the leash, steal food, bark, etc. I mean how many people take their little 10 pounds puppies out with treats on walks and teach them to walk near them, how many people worry about a dog jumping on them that doesn't reach the knee yet or teaches the dog to sit during greeting times if he doesn't jump up yet, who teaches a dog to stay several feet away from the kitchen table, on a mat, or in a different room while the people eat if the dog doesn't beg or steal yet? The answer is pretty much nobody but some dogs trainers. They wait until the problem occurs or actually starts to bother them. So in the end, statistically speaking, you will still have to deal with all the bad habits of an adult shelter dog. The only exception would be dealing with problems stemming from abuse because hopefully you will not be abusing your dog or using Cesar Millan methods on him.
BUT if you want a puppy that's fine, there are plenty of those in shelters too (and you've already shown you are okay with mutts and not knowing how they will turn out as an adult because you mentioned designer breeds several times). If you DO use preventative measure and address problems before they start then you will be saving yourself a lot of frustration, the point I was making before was that most people go get puppies so they can start with a clean slate and end up with a dog who has horrible bad habits anyways because they don't do anything to stop them before they start. but you can.
Also keep in mind not all shelter dogs have bad habits. I volunteer at a dog rescue, the biggest bad habit we get is jumping up followed by leash pulling, other than that we don't get much. All our dogs were strays though. A lot of shelters get owner turn ins, some lived in good homes but their owners died, got cancer, went to war, got allergies, etc. and did not not care about the dog or give the dog up for bad habits. the nice thing about adult dogs is what you see is what you get, you don't have to wait two years for him to grow up and hope he's what you wanted. You'll know if he will be a good jogger, if he likes kids, if he's good with small animals, if his coat sheds heavily or not, if he likes to bark, if he's clingy or not, etc.
What is also nice is adult dogs tend to be more ready to learn. They have a longer attention span and are physically capable of being housebroken already (most of the adults at my rescue, because they were strays are not housebroken but they are not babies who are incapable of holding it or learning to right now). I'm the type who will always want adults (I think
).ANYWAY, sorry to get so lengthy and preachy, I tend to do that
I'm gonna look on petfinder some more, maybe there will be some poodle mixes that you like, whatever they mix with might get them a more manly look. I think a lot of people assumed you wanted a large dog for a few reasons: You didn't like the idea of poodles, weren't manly enough, some people don't consider any small dogs manly.You wanted a dog good in snow/hard winters and a lot of small dogs are not (not sure about cockers though).
You wanted a jogging partner, terriers could be good small joggers (but are otherwise a handful), again I'm not sure about cockers, hopefully some cocker owners will chime in.
If you really want a dog from a breeder then you'll want a purebred, that way you'll know what you are getting. If you are not picky then we'll find you a good shelter/rescue mutt or purebred.
I also commend you for doing your research before running out and getting a dog, it'll be worth it in the end.
It's really, really hard to find good cocker spaniel breeders (plenty of bad ones, unfortunately) and, just a word of warning, cockers from bad breeders often have peeing problems. (This info is from my friend who is a dog groomer.)
I think they also require a lot of grooming (not positive on this.)
Maxy, great post! I would like to add my support to the fact that not all shelter dogs have bad habits. A lot are there because their families moved or other non-behavioral reasons. There are also puppies at shelters if you are patient . . . I got my dog (lab mix) at a shelter as a pup and she grew into the best dog ever (not that I am biased or anything! )
I think they also require a lot of grooming (not positive on this.)
Maxy, great post! I would like to add my support to the fact that not all shelter dogs have bad habits. A lot are there because their families moved or other non-behavioral reasons. There are also puppies at shelters if you are patient . . . I got my dog (lab mix) at a shelter as a pup and she grew into the best dog ever (not that I am biased or anything!
)Wow, thanks for the great post(s).
Already my criteria seem to be changing and I am warming to the idea going to a shelter. I had it in my mind that I could just list everything I wanted and then there'd magically be a breed that would be guarenteed to turn out that way (with training and love and attention of course). Now that I know I need to be flexible I've parred my requirements down a bit:
Like I said, I'm not in any rush and will be researching for a bit before making any decisions. You mention Cesar Millan (whom I'd never heard of) and without getting your input I may have gone out and bought one of his books and taken it as fact. I don't suppose I could ask for some reading recommendations? I'm especially want to make sure my training and correction methods are appropriate. What Doberluv said about a breed doing "the job they were bred to do" also sounds like an interesting reading topic- I have no intention of ever showing but would like to try to allow my dog to fulfill its purpose.
Also, any thoughts on a thai ridgeback? I had a rodesian ridgeback growing up and loved him (but would be way too big for me now). And there was a thai ridgeback in a local(ish) shelter...
Already my criteria seem to be changing and I am warming to the idea going to a shelter. I had it in my mind that I could just list everything I wanted and then there'd magically be a breed that would be guarenteed to turn out that way (with training and love and attention of course). Now that I know I need to be flexible I've parred my requirements down a bit:
- Good with family
- Not too loud
- Able to let off leash to play fetch and go for a jog with me (even in cold winter)
- Medium size MAX (pure lab is definately too big)
Like I said, I'm not in any rush and will be researching for a bit before making any decisions. You mention Cesar Millan (whom I'd never heard of) and without getting your input I may have gone out and bought one of his books and taken it as fact. I don't suppose I could ask for some reading recommendations? I'm especially want to make sure my training and correction methods are appropriate. What Doberluv said about a breed doing "the job they were bred to do" also sounds like an interesting reading topic- I have no intention of ever showing but would like to try to allow my dog to fulfill its purpose.
Also, any thoughts on a thai ridgeback? I had a rodesian ridgeback growing up and loved him (but would be way too big for me now). And there was a thai ridgeback in a local(ish) shelter...
I think your chances of finding a REAL Thai ridgeback in a shelter are slim to none. Many shelters mislabel breeds (usually not intentionally). You can get a good old mutt and after a while it can often look a lot like a certain purebred. My old mutt boy I've been told many times looked like a hovawart, but how many hovawarts were running loose in Texas? Not many so I'm pretty sure he was not a hovawart and was just a shepherd x retriever mix. I worked in a shelter for a long while and I would say not to take their word as 100% fact. Most people there are volunteers and may not know all that much about breeds and how to identify breeds. They make as best of a guess as they can, usually. I don't know much about Thai ridgebacks, though.
I really think a poodle is a good choice. A lab or retriever might be as well and a spaniel could definitely be a good choice if you're okay on the grooming. It can be hard to find good spaniel breeders (especially in the American Cockers and Cavaliers). I think a good cocker spaniel is a great dog and I've known many. There's a lot of health and temperament problems in those breeds so finding a good breeder or rescue would be very important. Have you thought about English Cockers if you like American cockers? I think it'd be easier to find a decent English cocker breeder than an American one. They're a lot less popular and less overbred.
As far as the doodles go, I think it is possible to find a reputable labradoodle or cockapoo breeder (not so much the other designer breeds). They are not the norm and you need to go into it like you would any other breeder and find someone quality. There are a lot of really really bad breeders of these dogs but there are some breeding multi-generational dogs from health tested parents and will be honest about shedding and coat type. Both cockapoos and labradoodles have breed clubs and a breed standard unlike any other designer dog I can think of. It's not the most popular opinion on here but if you really think a labradoodle is what you want, then I'd pursue it. Just be prepared to screen breeders out the wazoo so to speak. I have known many well bred labradoodles that come through the local guide dog program and they are amazing dogs. I personally like them much better than poodles and labs.
Of course rescues can be amazing too. There are plenty of suitable dogs in rescue out there.
I really think a poodle is a good choice. A lab or retriever might be as well and a spaniel could definitely be a good choice if you're okay on the grooming. It can be hard to find good spaniel breeders (especially in the American Cockers and Cavaliers). I think a good cocker spaniel is a great dog and I've known many. There's a lot of health and temperament problems in those breeds so finding a good breeder or rescue would be very important. Have you thought about English Cockers if you like American cockers? I think it'd be easier to find a decent English cocker breeder than an American one. They're a lot less popular and less overbred.
As far as the doodles go, I think it is possible to find a reputable labradoodle or cockapoo breeder (not so much the other designer breeds). They are not the norm and you need to go into it like you would any other breeder and find someone quality. There are a lot of really really bad breeders of these dogs but there are some breeding multi-generational dogs from health tested parents and will be honest about shedding and coat type. Both cockapoos and labradoodles have breed clubs and a breed standard unlike any other designer dog I can think of. It's not the most popular opinion on here but if you really think a labradoodle is what you want, then I'd pursue it. Just be prepared to screen breeders out the wazoo so to speak. I have known many well bred labradoodles that come through the local guide dog program and they are amazing dogs. I personally like them much better than poodles and labs.
Of course rescues can be amazing too. There are plenty of suitable dogs in rescue out there.
Also, just want to say thank you for researching! You sound very dedicated to picking the right dog and I'm sure you'll make an awesome home for whatever dog you choose.
As far as adult versus puppy, I have done both and never regretted it once. My favorite dog of all time I got when she was 4. She and I are inseparable and she is just the best dog. Of course she has a couple issues but so do all the others. I've never had an issue free dog regardless of the age we got them at. The easiest transitions have been with our adults. I just got a puppy and I can tell you she is much more work than when I added my 4 year old or my 2 year old, or the dog I got at 1 year old. She's probably more work than all of them combined. She's a good puppy but she chews EVERYTHING and has so much energy. If she's out, I have to watch her closely or she'll get into trouble. When I brought home my 4 year old, she never chewed anything and was calm in the house most the time. But then again, puppies are cute and I'm enjoying the work it takes to raise a puppy.
As far as adult versus puppy, I have done both and never regretted it once. My favorite dog of all time I got when she was 4. She and I are inseparable and she is just the best dog. Of course she has a couple issues but so do all the others. I've never had an issue free dog regardless of the age we got them at. The easiest transitions have been with our adults. I just got a puppy and I can tell you she is much more work than when I added my 4 year old or my 2 year old, or the dog I got at 1 year old. She's probably more work than all of them combined. She's a good puppy but she chews EVERYTHING and has so much energy. If she's out, I have to watch her closely or she'll get into trouble. When I brought home my 4 year old, she never chewed anything and was calm in the house most the time. But then again, puppies are cute and I'm enjoying the work it takes to raise a puppy.
When you say "medium" what does that mean to you? I think my 21", 55lb Aussie is "medium"
Shelters are typically those buildings that just keep dogs in runs or cages until they are either adopted or euthanized. They can be incredibly easy to adopt from, which is a pro and con at the same time. They don't know anything about the dogs much of the time, so you don't really know what you're getting (though if you talk to one of the kennel volunteers, they usually have a better idea than the people working the desk). Dogs can often act totally different in a shelter vs at home, so it's sometimes hard to judge. Dogs that are meek and quiet in the shelter have turned into spazzes at home and vice versa. Many shelters are offering a "trial-run" anymore, to make sure the dog is a good fit.
A rescue is usually a group of people who have banded together to help a certain breed or just a certain type (toy, sporting, black, etc). They are usually made up of volunteers opening their homes to foster dogs until they can find a home. There are both pros and cons to this. The pros, for the most part, outweigh the cons.
Pros:
They live with the dog and get to know the personality well
They usually start some sort of crate training and/or obedience
They can usually match the right dog to the right person pretty easily because they know so much about the dog
The dogs are usually neutered and up-to-date with all shots
Cons:
There are rescues out there that are REALLY elitist and make it almost impossible to adopt from. These are not the norm though and if you are rejected by one rescue, just go look for another one.
I really think at this point, just start scouring Petfinder.com, put in the traits you want (it asks for gender preference, size, age and if you want dogs that are good with kids, dogs and cats) and start looking around. My first dog was a Lab/Dobe? mix...about 50lbs and the most gentle thing ever. We adopted her through the local Humane Society after she weaned a litter of pups and was spayed. She had a certain amount of issues, probably more than she would have if any of us had had any idea of what we were doing.
My current dog, Sawyer the Aussie, is also a rescue from Aussie rescue and is pretty much the most perfect dog for me ever. He's been bomb-proof since the day I brought him home and he goes pretty much everywhere with me. His "issues" are typical of the breed--barky around movement and it's hard to get him to shut up when he's playing. But I knew that when I chose to go with this breed, it's just how they are.
All of my dogs have been around 18 months of age when I adopted them and honestly, I prefer that. They're young enough to still be fun and trouble while old enough to make housebreaking a snap.
Shelters are typically those buildings that just keep dogs in runs or cages until they are either adopted or euthanized. They can be incredibly easy to adopt from, which is a pro and con at the same time. They don't know anything about the dogs much of the time, so you don't really know what you're getting (though if you talk to one of the kennel volunteers, they usually have a better idea than the people working the desk). Dogs can often act totally different in a shelter vs at home, so it's sometimes hard to judge. Dogs that are meek and quiet in the shelter have turned into spazzes at home and vice versa. Many shelters are offering a "trial-run" anymore, to make sure the dog is a good fit.
A rescue is usually a group of people who have banded together to help a certain breed or just a certain type (toy, sporting, black, etc). They are usually made up of volunteers opening their homes to foster dogs until they can find a home. There are both pros and cons to this. The pros, for the most part, outweigh the cons.
Pros:
They live with the dog and get to know the personality well
They usually start some sort of crate training and/or obedience
They can usually match the right dog to the right person pretty easily because they know so much about the dog
The dogs are usually neutered and up-to-date with all shots
Cons:
There are rescues out there that are REALLY elitist and make it almost impossible to adopt from. These are not the norm though and if you are rejected by one rescue, just go look for another one.
I really think at this point, just start scouring Petfinder.com, put in the traits you want (it asks for gender preference, size, age and if you want dogs that are good with kids, dogs and cats) and start looking around. My first dog was a Lab/Dobe? mix...about 50lbs and the most gentle thing ever. We adopted her through the local Humane Society after she weaned a litter of pups and was spayed. She had a certain amount of issues, probably more than she would have if any of us had had any idea of what we were doing.
My current dog, Sawyer the Aussie, is also a rescue from Aussie rescue and is pretty much the most perfect dog for me ever. He's been bomb-proof since the day I brought him home and he goes pretty much everywhere with me. His "issues" are typical of the breed--barky around movement and it's hard to get him to shut up when he's playing. But I knew that when I chose to go with this breed, it's just how they are.
All of my dogs have been around 18 months of age when I adopted them and honestly, I prefer that. They're young enough to still be fun and trouble while old enough to make housebreaking a snap.
You can go to either. A shelter and rescue can mean the same thing or it can be totally different. Shelters are often on site places where they house dogs in runs. Many are municipal shelters but there can be private shelters too. Some are kill shelters and others are no kill. It's a broad term. Same for rescues. Many are run out of private homes. Some only rescue a certain breed, some many breeds....
Where many rescues are better imo is that they often keep dogs in foster homes. A rescue that has a dog in a foster situation is probably your best bet at rescuing and knowing a lot about the dog. Many times they'll have tried them with other dogs or cats and can tell you to the best of their knowledge how they react. Municipal shelters tend to do less intense screening. Since the dogs are in runs most the time and in a stressfull environment, it can be harder to assess the dog's true personality. Some dogs will react poorly to that environment and may appear to have more problems than they do. Others will shut down (I see this a lot with herding breeds especially) and will be very calm and timid in a shelter.
Application processes also vary. Some shelters will adopt out anything to anyone with a pulse. Some rescues have very thorough application processes with references needed, and require home visits. Before I got my puppy I was interested in a dog at a rescue and it was more of an interview rather than an application. They asked me questions and I answered them. I decided it was the wrong dog for my situation though. The adoption requirements will vary.
But it all varies. There are good shelters and bad shelters and good rescues and bad rescues. There are even people that call themselves 'rescues' who are little more than brokers or bad breeders.
Where many rescues are better imo is that they often keep dogs in foster homes. A rescue that has a dog in a foster situation is probably your best bet at rescuing and knowing a lot about the dog. Many times they'll have tried them with other dogs or cats and can tell you to the best of their knowledge how they react. Municipal shelters tend to do less intense screening. Since the dogs are in runs most the time and in a stressfull environment, it can be harder to assess the dog's true personality. Some dogs will react poorly to that environment and may appear to have more problems than they do. Others will shut down (I see this a lot with herding breeds especially) and will be very calm and timid in a shelter.
Application processes also vary. Some shelters will adopt out anything to anyone with a pulse. Some rescues have very thorough application processes with references needed, and require home visits. Before I got my puppy I was interested in a dog at a rescue and it was more of an interview rather than an application. They asked me questions and I answered them. I decided it was the wrong dog for my situation though. The adoption requirements will vary.
But it all varies. There are good shelters and bad shelters and good rescues and bad rescues. There are even people that call themselves 'rescues' who are little more than brokers or bad breeders.
I have lots of books to recommend, some are more confusing for those not familiar with training and training lingo while others are good for beginners, I'll try and say which is which.
A good starter book is "The Power of Positive Dog Training" by Pat Miller which basically talks about everything a little bit, goes through training lots of commands all using clicker training (which I LOVE, no dog is easier to train than a clicker savvy dog).
Another good one that is easy to understand is "The Other End of the Leash" by Patricia McConnell. It mainly talks about body language, why we do what we do around dogs, how dogs can misunderstand what we do (like hugging, we love it and they are threatened by it) and dogs body language and reading dogs.
Some more technical books/not basic training only are:
"The Culture Clash" by Jean Donaldson is my favorite book, I love this trainer. she talks about everything in this book, regular training, aggression, socialization, etc. I would definitely read this one.
"Bones Would Rain from the Sky" by Suzanne Clothier talks about building a strong bond between you and your dog and how training can help or hurt that bond. It's very insightful.
"For the Love of a Dog" by Patricia McConnell talks about animal emotions, if you are looking for a training book this is not one. It does talk about body language, facial expressions and calming signals which are all important for reading your dog. It is also helpful in changing people's mind about using harsh methods, a lot of people don't think dogs have emotions and this book uses the brain of a dog to show you otherwise.
Karen Pryor's new book "Reaching the Animal Mind" is also very good, it isn't just about dogs though, it's about clicker training, how it works, why it works (for all animals) and how to train without punishment. It's not really a training book, it's more of a "how animals think" book.
And I mentioned Cesar on purpose in hopes you'd notice it almost all dog owners will hear about him at some point. I hate that guy. He's not TOO physically abusive (he is a little with his neck jabs and collar corrections) but he is very psychologically abusive causing dogs extreme fear and forcing them to interact with things they fear in order to avoid the fear he would induce if they tried to protect themselves from these scary things. In the end many of these dogs will live the rest of their lives fearful of both what their owners will do to them plus in fear of what was originally causing them to act out (many of the dogs he trains are fearful of dogs or people so act aggressively towards them, instead of making the dogs like these things he makes them MORE scared of what their owners will do to them than they are of dogs or strangers, now the dog is just more fearful). He also pretends that dogs and people are in a wolf pack and should all treat each other like that. He thinks that dogs are constantly trying to control you and that unless the dog fears you he will never listen to you and will become aggressive. He says that is a dog walks ahead of you on a walk he thinks he's in charge (dominant), he is jumps up he's trying to take over the household, basically any behavior you don't like is your dog's attempt to take over the household and be "alpha". He doesn't teach dogs he just punishes them until they stop doing anything. He is completely wrong about how dogs think, dogs do "bad" things because they are doing what normal dogs do, they have no idea it's not accepted in the human world. all you have to do is teach them what they should do to get what they want. They are doing the behavior for a reason, they are getting something out of it, teach them a different way to get what they want and everything will be fine. PLEASE don't listen to Cesar, I'd return the book. His vision of dog behavior is very warped.
As far as the dog doing what it's bred to do, that'll all depend on the dog you get. Sometimes you can't do exactly what they were bred to do, for instance some one with a pit bull is not going to fight him (I'd hope) but they can channel that energy into hog hunting, weight pull, agility, etc. But it's always nice if you can do scenting with your hound or do lure coursing with your sighthound, it's great to see their natural traits come out.
Thai Ridgebacks are pretty rare. in the USA there are about 17 Thai mixes in shelters/rescues on petfinder, no purebreds. I bet you'd have a hard time finding breeders too. I don't know ANYTHING about their temperaments though. They are probably not too similar to Rhodesian Ridgebacks.
now that I know your size parameters I can find more appropriate dogs on petfinder. I'll PM you some when I make a list and see if you like any.
ETA: There have been like 7 posts while I was typing this, sorry if I repeated what others said.
A good starter book is "The Power of Positive Dog Training" by Pat Miller which basically talks about everything a little bit, goes through training lots of commands all using clicker training (which I LOVE, no dog is easier to train than a clicker savvy dog).
Another good one that is easy to understand is "The Other End of the Leash" by Patricia McConnell. It mainly talks about body language, why we do what we do around dogs, how dogs can misunderstand what we do (like hugging, we love it and they are threatened by it) and dogs body language and reading dogs.
Some more technical books/not basic training only are:
"The Culture Clash" by Jean Donaldson is my favorite book, I love this trainer. she talks about everything in this book, regular training, aggression, socialization, etc. I would definitely read this one.
"Bones Would Rain from the Sky" by Suzanne Clothier talks about building a strong bond between you and your dog and how training can help or hurt that bond. It's very insightful.
"For the Love of a Dog" by Patricia McConnell talks about animal emotions, if you are looking for a training book this is not one. It does talk about body language, facial expressions and calming signals which are all important for reading your dog. It is also helpful in changing people's mind about using harsh methods, a lot of people don't think dogs have emotions and this book uses the brain of a dog to show you otherwise.
Karen Pryor's new book "Reaching the Animal Mind" is also very good, it isn't just about dogs though, it's about clicker training, how it works, why it works (for all animals) and how to train without punishment. It's not really a training book, it's more of a "how animals think" book.
And I mentioned Cesar on purpose in hopes you'd notice it
almost all dog owners will hear about him at some point. I hate that guy. He's not TOO physically abusive (he is a little with his neck jabs and collar corrections) but he is very psychologically abusive causing dogs extreme fear and forcing them to interact with things they fear in order to avoid the fear he would induce if they tried to protect themselves from these scary things. In the end many of these dogs will live the rest of their lives fearful of both what their owners will do to them plus in fear of what was originally causing them to act out (many of the dogs he trains are fearful of dogs or people so act aggressively towards them, instead of making the dogs like these things he makes them MORE scared of what their owners will do to them than they are of dogs or strangers, now the dog is just more fearful). He also pretends that dogs and people are in a wolf pack and should all treat each other like that. He thinks that dogs are constantly trying to control you and that unless the dog fears you he will never listen to you and will become aggressive. He says that is a dog walks ahead of you on a walk he thinks he's in charge (dominant), he is jumps up he's trying to take over the household, basically any behavior you don't like is your dog's attempt to take over the household and be "alpha". He doesn't teach dogs he just punishes them until they stop doing anything. He is completely wrong about how dogs think, dogs do "bad" things because they are doing what normal dogs do, they have no idea it's not accepted in the human world. all you have to do is teach them what they should do to get what they want. They are doing the behavior for a reason, they are getting something out of it, teach them a different way to get what they want and everything will be fine. PLEASE don't listen to Cesar, I'd return the book. His vision of dog behavior is very warped.As far as the dog doing what it's bred to do, that'll all depend on the dog you get. Sometimes you can't do exactly what they were bred to do, for instance some one with a pit bull is not going to fight him (I'd hope) but they can channel that energy into hog hunting, weight pull, agility, etc. But it's always nice if you can do scenting with your hound or do lure coursing with your sighthound, it's great to see their natural traits come out.
Thai Ridgebacks are pretty rare. in the USA there are about 17 Thai mixes in shelters/rescues on petfinder, no purebreds. I bet you'd have a hard time finding breeders too. I don't know ANYTHING about their temperaments though. They are probably not too similar to Rhodesian Ridgebacks.
now that I know your size parameters I can find more appropriate dogs on petfinder. I'll PM you some when I make a list and see if you like any.
ETA: There have been like 7 posts while I was typing this, sorry if I repeated what others said.
These 4 links are VERY important. They should answer any confusion you might feel about Cesar Milan ("the dog whisperer") and his faulty, unschooled and out-dated ideas.
Dog Whisperer, Dog Psychology and Cesar Millan
Bouvier - Myths about the Alpha Roll
Bark Blog: More on Millan: Guest Blog by Jolanta Benal
Debunking Dominance Theory | Karen Pryor Clickertraining
Some more great articles. I highly recommend you read these for your best all around chance at raising a good dog. And definitely get hold of the books recommended. Culture Clash is also my favorite if you want to really understand how dogs probably think, learn and operate. You'll learn things you never thought you would about the importance of socialization and exactly how and why. Imperative for a well adjusted and safe dog. Fantastic book, chalk full of fascinating information and all very economically worded...not a big book at all.
Got a "crazy," rambunctious, high energy puppy? This is one of my favorite articles:
How to Train a "Crazy" Dog! | Karen Pryor Clickertraining (excellent)
How to Train a "Crazy" Dog! | Karen Pryor Clickertraining
Another one of my favorites....VERY IMPORTANT imo
26. Zen
Got a puppy who bites? Who doesn't? This is an exceedingly important thing to understand:
Bite Inhibition Article
http://www.shirleychong.com/keepers/archives/bite.txt
Without this, any training is frustrating and very difficult:
Eye Contact - Eye Contact - VeterinaryPartner.com - a VIN company!
Get this behavior going and established early on and continue to practice forever. It will make your life with your dog so much easier and less frustrating and can save your pup's life:
Training a Steadfast Recall
Training a Steadfast Recall | Karen Pryor Clickertraining
Prevent this at all costs. Be pro-active. Start early:
possessiveness
Good training articles of all kinds of things:
ClickerSolutions Training Articles Contents
Hope those help. Also, there are stickied threads (the ones with the blue thumb tac) in the training, puppy and other sub forums that may be useful. The more you educate yourself, the better experience you and your family will have with a new dog, not to mention the vast difference it will make to the dog. Happy reading.
Dog Whisperer, Dog Psychology and Cesar Millan
Bouvier - Myths about the Alpha Roll
Bark Blog: More on Millan: Guest Blog by Jolanta Benal
Debunking Dominance Theory | Karen Pryor Clickertraining
Some more great articles. I highly recommend you read these for your best all around chance at raising a good dog. And definitely get hold of the books recommended. Culture Clash is also my favorite if you want to really understand how dogs probably think, learn and operate. You'll learn things you never thought you would about the importance of socialization and exactly how and why. Imperative for a well adjusted and safe dog. Fantastic book, chalk full of fascinating information and all very economically worded...not a big book at all.
Got a "crazy," rambunctious, high energy puppy? This is one of my favorite articles:
How to Train a "Crazy" Dog! | Karen Pryor Clickertraining (excellent)
How to Train a "Crazy" Dog! | Karen Pryor Clickertraining
Another one of my favorites....VERY IMPORTANT imo
26. Zen
Got a puppy who bites? Who doesn't? This is an exceedingly important thing to understand:
Bite Inhibition Article
http://www.shirleychong.com/keepers/archives/bite.txt
Without this, any training is frustrating and very difficult:
Eye Contact - Eye Contact - VeterinaryPartner.com - a VIN company!
Get this behavior going and established early on and continue to practice forever. It will make your life with your dog so much easier and less frustrating and can save your pup's life:
Training a Steadfast Recall
Training a Steadfast Recall | Karen Pryor Clickertraining
Prevent this at all costs. Be pro-active. Start early:
possessiveness
Good training articles of all kinds of things:
ClickerSolutions Training Articles Contents
Hope those help. Also, there are stickied threads (the ones with the blue thumb tac) in the training, puppy and other sub forums that may be useful. The more you educate yourself, the better experience you and your family will have with a new dog, not to mention the vast difference it will make to the dog. Happy reading.
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