well, i'm 16. in highschool. i definitely need help finding a dog. :]. i want a dog that is friendly, kind of playful, but also very loving at the same time.

i love animals that get attached to one person in particular. :]. so it would be nice to have a dog like that.

exercise is not a problem. i live on a long dirt road and have a large yard with enough space. i have plenty of time to pay attention to him/her. i have always fell in love with dogs. no matter what kind, how big, etc. anything from labs, hounds, shih tzus, pugs, miniature pinschers. everything. :]. but i want one for my own.

i have always loved great danes, although i don't think i could handle one now, i think they are beautiful. i have been looking at the miniature greyhounds/whippets, and pomeranians. i cannot deside what i want!

please help?
:].

thank you!
-tori.

Something you need to seriously consider before making your choice. Some of the breeds you mentioned require a lot of up keep. How much time do you have to devote to grooming? Can you afford regular professional grooming?

Shih Tzus and Poms are great little dogs that would meet your needs, but they do need a lot of grooming, both at home and regular professional grooming.

One breed you didn't mention, but should be considered, is the standard longhaired Dachshund. They're fairly low maintenance (once a week comb out, and the occasional bath), loving, friendly, playful, easy to train, and do tend to develop a strong bond with one person, although they're friendly to everyone.... if you raise them right. But also keep in mind that while they do get attached to one person, that person might not be you. They decide who they want, and that seems to be true in many breeds.

Originally Posted by MiSS TORi

well, i'm 16. in highschool. i definitely need help finding a dog. :]. i want a dog that is friendly, kind of playful, but also very loving at the same time.

i love animals that get attached to one person in particular. :]. so it would be nice to have a dog like that.

exercise is not a problem. i live on a long dirt road and have a large yard with enough space. i have plenty of time to pay attention to him/her. i have always fell in love with dogs. no matter what kind, how big, etc. anything from labs, hounds, shih tzus, pugs, miniature pinschers. everything. :]. but i want one for my own.

i have always loved great danes, although i don't think i could handle one now, i think they are beautiful. i have been looking at the miniature greyhounds/whippets, and pomeranians. i cannot deside what i want!

please help?
:].

thank you!
-tori.

Hello Tori!

I, too, am a high school student. I am just wrapping up my junior year, and I find myself craving my own dog (since I lost my shelter dog about 2 years ago - and he was 15 years old). I understand you have certain criteria you are looking for in a pooch - and I will touch on that shortly. First, there are a few things I want to bring to your attention.

Here is the average financial burden of properly caring for a dog:
Veterinarian visit: $50.00-$80.00
Fecal test for parasites: $40-50
Vaccines: $100.00
Xrays: $75-$150
Bloodwork: $75-$150
Medication: $25-$100
Spay/neuter: $300-$700
Heartworm/flea and tick preventative: $50-$150.00
Emergency treatment: $500-$1,500(sometimes more)
Dental/extractions: $300-$800
Heartworm test: $40-$75
Dishonest vet procedures: $50- $1,000
Microchip: $40- $75
Grooming : $40- $75
Food(high quality food) $15 per week per dog
(These are the prices for one individual time, such as one visit to the veterinarian or one free at the groomers.)

You'd also need to think about the time needed to properly care for a dog. If we are speaking of a puppy, that means someone needs to watch the puppy very well at first and let him/her out every 30 minutes to use the bathroom. Where I work, the dogs have 2 walks and 2 hours of play a day. These are very active dogs, and they take about an hour long walk each. It is wise to know if you can provide adequate play and exercise time daily. Are you willing to devote about 2-4 hours simply playing with and exercising your dog, every single day?

Needless to say, to keep your dog happy it is also very smart to keep their environment clean. This includes picking up feces and keeping fresh water in their bowl. You also have to take into consideration that you are still enrolled in school, and you will (hopefully) be attending college. Who will take the dog when you leave for college? It isn't wise to get a dog when you are still involved with receiving your education. It should be your top priority, to finish your education.

You also need to educate yourself on the breeds that are appropriate for your lifestyle. When adopting your pooch, you must take this into mind. If you bring home a dog that has a high activity level of which you cannot manage to meet their needs - you will have nothing but hard times. Choose a dog that fits into your lifestyle, not which ones are cutest or everyone else has.

If your parents agree that you can bring a new dog into the family and you are financially secure (accidents happen, and not being prepared can really be harmful) - then fill out the criteria you've listed above to find the best breed for you on the following website: Animal Planet :: Guides :: Dog Breed Selector

Good luck! ^_^

Are you going to be looking after the dog entirely on your own our are your parents/ any other adults going to contribute? There can be a lot of expense involved with dogs, are you able to offer the financial support that the dog would need in terms of food, vet's bills etc?

Please bear in mind that it can be nice to have a dog that is attached to you in particular but you also need to make sure it is friendly to other people as well. What happens if you have to go away on holiday or when you are away at school? Who would look after that dog at those times?

I'm not trying to rain on your parade about getting a dog because it is a great thing to do, I'm just saying that you should make sure you have thought about every aspect of dog care before getting one. Dogs can be great but they also require your care and attention. Be sure that you have the time they need.

I would usually recommend going to a rescue home to get a dog but I doubt that any would deal with you alone without an adult because of your age (speaking as someone trying to adopt a dog at the moment, most homes have a 21 or over policy in my area). I would suggest a loyal breed like a lab or, if you have the energy, a collie.

[Yogi]

As a breeder of Miniature Pinschers, I would not recommend one at this time. This breed is never a first time breed for anyone. They are in fact not a toy breed but a true terrier. Very difficult to house train and in addition difficult to train in general. They do not learn recall well and will bolt every chance they get. They do not liked to be picked up and held due to their inherit independent nature. Failing results in the dog biting. They do not do well or are they recommended to be with children though the child may be well taught to handle dogs, it only takes one time for the dog to be hurt. They are ratters and are extremely high in prey drive. I would look at a lab or as noted, a rescue for a first dog.

I think you should head down to your local pet store that features pet adoptions on Sat/Sun. Find yourself a nice mixed breed that tears at your heart strings the hardest and take him/her home. So many pups need homes. Don't limit yourself to "purebreeds". A mixed or crossbred dog is generally healthier with less chance of genetic issues. I wish you luck in your search.

Originally Posted by MiSS TORi

well, i'm 16. in highschool. i definitely need help finding a dog. :]. i want a dog that is friendly, kind of playful, but also very loving at the same time.
i love animals that get attached to one person in particular. :]. so it would be nice to have a dog like that.
exercise is not a problem. i live on a long dirt road and have a large yard with enough space. i have plenty of time to pay attention to him/her. i have always fell in love with dogs. no matter what kind, how big, etc. anything from labs, hounds, shih tzus, pugs, miniature pinschers. everything. :]. but i want one for my own.
i have always loved great danes, although i don't think i could handle one now, i think they are beautiful. i have been looking at the miniature greyhounds/whippets, and pomeranians. i cannot deside what i want!
please help?
:].
thank you!
-tori.

Tori, I'm wondering if you have thought about the future? What happens after you graduate from High School??

Originally Posted by Yogi

As a breeder of Miniature Pinschers, I would not recommend one at this time. This breed is never a first time breed for anyone. They are in fact not a toy breed but a true terrier. Very difficult to house train and in addition difficult to train in general. They do not learn recall well and will bolt every chance they get. They do not liked to be picked up and held due to their inherit independent nature. Failing results in the dog biting. They do not do well or are they recommended to be with children though the child may be well taught to handle dogs, it only takes one time for the dog to be hurt. They are ratters and are extremely high in prey drive. I would look at a lab or as noted, a rescue for a first dog.

I have to agree with a few things and disagree here. The first dog I ever owned is/was a Min Pin...do I recommend these dogs to first time owners? No. But I am in love, and never regret a day of it. Here's the problems I have encountered:
She was great with everyone at a young age and then changed as she got older...And when I mean changed, I mean she is EXTREMELY picky about who she is going to like and not like...but she doesn't discriminate about chasing people...and this is not funny business, this is serious and could get her into a great deal of trouble one day.
Libby STILL has housebreaking issues and she is almost 5. She is good about 98% of the time, but can flub up.
Yes, they can be very difficult to train, obedience wise...and her recall SUCKS...
Prey drive is mega high here...
Now, I have to completely disagree when it comes to being held...every min pin I've come across likes to be held and LOVES to cuddle and be where you are every minute.

Originally Posted by Jantrix

I think you should head down to your local pet store that features pet adoptions on Sat/Sun. Find yourself a nice mixed breed that tears at your heart strings the hardest and take him/her home. So many pups need homes. Don't limit yourself to "purebreeds". A mixed or crossbred dog is generally healthier with less chance of genetic issues. I wish you luck in your search.

I think this is the worst advice I've ever seen...you should NOT just go down to your local pet store and fall in love...you need to research the breeds first and THEN go wherever it is you might go and fall in love with THAT breed...if not, you could fall in love with a breed that is all wrong for you, which could end up very bad for both you and the dog.
If you're interested in really knowing which dog breed is right for you, write me a PM and I'll ask you some questions and give you a good list. One of the things that I do (I'm studying to be a dog trainer) is help people find the right breed. Everyone that has gotten lists from me have been very pleased. I wont just give you one, I'll give you a few options. Hope to hear from you.

[mrandrei]

You might might want to consider getting a smaller dog. It is much easier to take care of but it is still a lot of work with a teen's busy schedule. I would say Poodle, Pomeranian, Chihuahua, maybe a Terrier.

Originally Posted by tristanichole

I think this is the worst advice I've ever seen...you should NOT just go down to your local pet store and fall in love...you need to research the breeds first and THEN go wherever it is you might go and fall in love with THAT breed...if not, you could fall in love with a breed that is all wrong for you, which could end up very bad for both you and the dog.
If you're interested in really knowing which dog breed is right for you, write me a PM and I'll ask you some questions and give you a good list. One of the things that I do (I'm studying to be a dog trainer) is help people find the right breed. Everyone that has gotten lists from me have been very pleased. I wont just give you one, I'll give you a few options. Hope to hear from you.

I'm not saying NOT to research breeds and what would be right for her, what I AM saying is not rule out crossbreeds and mixed breeds of which there are millions in shelters and foster homes that need forever homes.

As a breeder of Miniature Pinschers, I would not recommend one at this time. This breed is never a first time breed for anyone. They are in fact not a toy breed but a true terrier. Very difficult to house train and in addition difficult to train in general. They do not learn recall well and will bolt every chance they get. They do not liked to be picked up and held due to their inherit independent nature. Failing results in the dog biting. They do not do well or are they recommended to be with children though the child may be well taught to handle dogs, it only takes one time for the dog to be hurt. They are ratters and are extremely high in prey drive. I would look at a lab or as noted, a rescue for a first dog.
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