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Which breed designations should I be careful of when searching to adopt a puppy2007-11-25 2:55:06

After you answer them, then select a dog that you think will match your personality and lifestyle best. You don't want to fall in love with a tiny pup only to have it grow so big that you can't care for it.

In my opinion, all dogs are great, including the breeds often ruled "bad". It all revolves around training. If you and the dog receive proper training (and note, I said YOU and the dog, not just the dog), you will have an obedient, social, loving, respectful dog that listens around you and others.

With that said, certain breeds will appeal to you. So choose a breed that you may feel is what you want (for example, friendly and loving - Golden Retrievers are best; good watchdog that is still playful - Dalmatians are great, a dog that is small and and easily paper-trained - Chihauhua's are good, etc.). But in general, I do not feel any label is appropriate. All dogs have similar traits, but different personalities (like humans). How you train and teach the dog is more crucial.

The picture you linked is of an adorable pup. Just make sure he won't grow too big for your home (unless you want a big dog).

Good luck!

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I adopted a "pit" from a shelter and he is the calmest, best dog I have ever had. Please don't label a whole breed as bad. Golden retrievers attack more people every year than pits and rotts. My trainer told me that. I did get my dog professionally trained as a precaution. Getting them trained no matter their breed is a good idea. If you are certain you don't want one then be aware of the use of terrier in their name since pits real name is the American Stratfordshire Terrier. Shelters use terrier alot. Good luck.

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Choosing a dog is a very personal experience and not one that should be done hastily. You need to take into account what sort of space you have, what kind of time you can put into your dog or puppy and how much experience you have. There's nothing wrong in getting a young adult dog who's had some basic obedience training and is past the puppy potty training stage. Good breeds are labs, shepherds and some goldens. Be aware that every breed has it's problems. Labs and goldens can be hyper but if you find a mellow one they are worth their weight in gold. Golden retrievers went thru a lot of breeding popularity and as a result, some became quite aggressive and flighty in temperament. They also require constant grooming. Are you going to be able to train your dog? Will you be able to walk it daily and train it daily during it's obedience training period? Is your house and yard large enough to accomodate a dog that may be high energy. If you are a laid back personality, you need to stay away from the high energy, dominant personality or you'll be in trouble. Take time to look beyond the cuteness and do some testing of puppy personality. If you can, find an experienced dog owner or trainer to go with you to assess the personality of the dog you choose. These animals are not expendable, yet most have ended up in the pound and rescues for a reason. Part of the reason is that people don't go to the trouble to research the needs of the dog or don't find the time to care for it properly. Good luck in your search.

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In general, shelters and rescue orgs are honest and up front. I help run a dog rescue and we have to disclose EVERYTHING about the dog and it's bahavior to potential owners because if there is ever a problem with the dog, we could be sued for not disclosing info.