I need help choosing a dog breed!

There are battery operated ultrasound devices. You can use them indoors. I put mine outdoors to STOP my neighbors dogs from always barking.

You can set this device to how many barks to allow before it emits a signal. This signal does not hurt the dogs ears, or any other animals ears. Humans cannot hear it.

I finally could sleep at night after I put this device in my back yard.


i think its wrong that you employ such a device. those dogs are not yours to control, and if you have an issue with it, take it up with the neighbors. i would NOT be happy if i was your neighbor and i found you using such a device on my animals.
 
Labrador Retrievers are NOT small by any means - my female lab is 75 pounds, and she is not overweight at all. You realize that a puppy grows VERY quickly, right? I got my lab at 12 weeks old, she was less than 20 pounds, in another 3 months she was nearing 50 pounds. So it will not be a little puppy for but a couple of months.

Labs need a lot of exercise, and especially as puppies are super hyper and active. They are a sporting breed, and are bred to hunt - so again, daily exercise is a must for this breed.

Labs are also very social and bright dogs, and they are extremely affectionate and need a lot of attention. This doesn't mean you cannot leave the dog home for 8 hours at a time when it is an adult - my lab is fine for 8-9 hours a day, 5 days a week now, but until she was a year old, she would whine and bark when we left her in her crate when we went to work. If we let her out of the crate while we went to work/school, she would chew up furniture. But with age and some training, she grew out of it and is now well-behaved when home alone. However, I do take her for long daily walks, and aside from school/work we spend most time at home, and give her a whole lot of attention.

As I stated earlier, I would never buy a dog from a pet store. They are notorious for being inbred from puppy farms (if you don't know about the abhorrent and disgusting practices of puppy mills, do a little research). Everyone I know of who has bought a dog from a pet store has had major health problems within the first 3 years they had the dog. They are not bred well, and you are right - they often have weird temperament issues, whether abnormally timid or abnormally shy/aggressive. I would only buy from a breeder, where you can see BOTH the mother and father of the puppy, who has a proven track record of breeding healthy dogs, and you can see exactly where the puppies have grown up, and how they have been socialized, etc. Either that, or I would get it from a shelter, as has been stated many times.
 
Mal.. you are getting great advice here.. don't be selfish and get a dog if you cannot properly care for him or her, it is simply not fair for the dog. In a year or so, after this bored dog has ravaged your home, what's going to happen? Are you going to get rid of it?
As stated, a cat is the closest thing that matches what you want in an animal.
Please do not take offense, I'm not being mean, some people have no time or patience for a dog, and there is nothing wrong with that.
 
i think its wrong that you employ such a device. those dogs are not yours to control, and if you have an issue with it, take it up with the neighbors. i would NOT be happy if i was your neighbor and i found you using such a device on my animals.

Yes.. my thoughts exactly... I would be FURIOUS if I found out my neighbors did something like that.
 
I have a Neapolitan Mastiff, probably the most protective dog I have ever owned. If he is too big. Get a Labadore.........Good luck and much happiness
 
Yes.. my thoughts exactly... I would be FURIOUS if I found out my neighbors did something like that.

I would be more embarrassed than angry. Which is worse - finding out the neighbor used this 'device' because your dogs won't shut up or getting fined/having to get rid of the dogs because the neighbor keeps calling the police for noise complaints? and shouldn't the neighbors have a right to peace and quiet, especially when they are trying to sleep?

I know it's off-topic, but i wish i'd had one of those things. i watched my sister's dogs for a week and someone called the cops after the first day to complain about them, and the police came over and gave me a 'warning'. after that i had to lock them in the basement for the rest of the time so they wouldn't disturb anyone again. ugh. i felt totally ashamed for having annoying barking stupid dogs and they weren't even mine.
 
As long as you give it a little exercise daily, a bassett hound is a pretty undemanding dog. Short hair, sleeps alot...the only issue is that you have to give inside their ears a thorough cleaning every so often.

They don't bark much, but when they do, it's a low, deep bark...they sound like a dog 10x their size...not like a yippy little lapdog.

DONT DONT DONT get a Basset Hound!! If you have never owned one/lived with one you truely dont have a right to take such a wonderful animal and keep them in a small area such as an Apartment! (IMO NO ONE should have them in an apartment!)

I have owned-and LOVED my hound...but they are DEFINITELY NOT apartment dogs...also the thought that any animal that is a sent hound,who barks when they see/smell something that they want, is going to stay quiet even one second in an apartment is absurd! And to EVER say that Bassets don't bark much is JUST as ABSURD! I dont care if the car was almost a mile away our Basset, Clara, would warn us of the danger coming our way! Along with howling at every siren within hearing distance...of HER-NOT us!lol

They are NOT lazy small/medium dogs who like to lay around! They are WONDERFUL, nosey, Loud, LARGE dogs on short legs..who love a good run--when off leash..perferbally when you are chasing them calling their name!lol

Dont get me wrong...I LOVE hounds and am DEFINITELY a hound person...but I also know that they are not a breed for everyone----after our girl I know that my sister, dad and mom will NEVER own one again...and there are just TO MANY of them that are given away/dumped because people do not understand them!

and that is my 2c+ on that issue.........

NOW I would TOTALLY sugest looking into any and every breed/mix that you are thinking of...talk to people who own some...not just one person...but MANY!

Look into adopting a 1-2year old! PLEASE research what you are doing AND PLEASE dont buy from Pet Stores!! AND also......PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE DONT EVER EVER use a no-bark collar on your dog just cause he/she is barking! TRAIN TRAIN TRAIN----not only the dog...but also YOU!!!!
 
:confused: I like huskies, malamutes, and other snow dogs, but in the book I'm reading right now, it says northern bred dogs are NOT for unexperienced owners. But they're sooo cute when they're puppies. Thier fur on their necks are so soft and fluffy...

You are right, a husky, etc is NOT for you. All puppies are cute. Huskies are roamers, they need open spaces! I agree with jackiomy 100%, Do your research!

but PLEASE do some research on the breeds you like. There are so many dogs in rescue groups and animal shelters because they were "such cute puppies" and the people who got them didn't think ahead about how big they would get, or how bored, or just lonely and become an "inconvenience" for the owner.

Dogs are a 10 to 15 year commitment!
If this is your first dog go to:
www.dogbreedinfo.com

i also agree with
A rescue dog would be such a nice thing to do

Rescue dogs are great. One thing though, rescue places are more strict with adopting out pets then a breeder. Which is a good thing, because these pets are for 10 to 15 years! Oh did I say that already? yes I did, and yes I am lecturing!

even if you are set on a certain kind of dog, there any many breed-specific rescue groups, and you should check those out first. those people know their dogs extremely well, and make it their job to fit their dogs with exactly the right person and home.

Yes! True.

And whatever you decide to do....DO NOT buy a puppy from a pet store. Good luck finding the right dog for you!

Yes!

I think the only difference between a Blue Heeler and an Australiain Shepard is a hockey mom.....er, wait, I mean lipstick. Yeah, that's it. Lipstick. :)
Neither of these dogs would be good for you, and Madcrawdad, both those breeds wear lipstick, the border collie rules!


yes, yes, yes!!!

Steer clear of any herding/working dogs unless you plan on exercising them constantly. Otherwise you will have a disaster zone for an apartment!
VERY TRUE!

I do not believe I know of ANY dog that I would describe as "easy to care for" when you first get it.
I have quite a bit of experience with dogs, and there is no breed that will fulfill your criteria.
Words of Wisdom!! Listen to Lucy!

don't be selfish and get a dog if you cannot properly care for him or her, it is simply not fair for the dog.
Listen to Bettagurl!

Maybe start by walking your neighbors dogs everyday for a month. You will see lots of different dogs, talk to dog owners. You may even want to volunteer at the SPCA for a bit, or a dog rescue place. This will give you more insight on "dog life". You will look at those cute little puppies a lot different when you get some experience!
 
Maybe start by walking your neighbors dogs everyday for a month. You will see lots of different dogs, talk to dog owners. You may even want to volunteer at the SPCA for a bit, or a dog rescue place. This will give you more insight on "dog life". You will look at those cute little puppies a lot different when you get some experience!

I think that may be the best advice so far. Have you ever actually had a dog before? Do you know that you like DOGS, or right now do you just like the IDEA of having a dog? Volunteering will give you the ability to understand dogs, see how they act and think, and decide what you want to do BEFORE you make a commitment. You can see how much you enjoy scooping poop before you sign on to do it every day, several times a day, sometimes in the rain or snow or when all you want to do is be inside sleeping.

I've lived in several rentals - apartments and houses. Each place always has their own rules. At this last one i was able to bring all my cats (4 of them) but i had to put down a $800 pet security deposit, separate from the standard deposit. If you are going to commit to a dog, it should be a lifelong responsibility. What if you have to move somewhere else? Will the dog be so important that you or your parent(s) will turn down a good/cheap/nicely located apartment because pets aren't allowed there? One reason that animal shelters have been overflowing lately is because people's homes are being foreclosed on, they have to move into rentals or apartments, and they simply can't take their animals with them or won't take/don't have the extra time to find a suitable housing arrangement. Just look at that huge cat, Princess (Prince) Chunk. Her owner simply set him loose because the house was foreclosed on, and it's a LOT easier to find a place that will take cats than it is to find one that will take dogs.
 
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