Things to consider when getting a family dog

My daughter and I are in the process of adopting a dog. we've been searching for a few weeks, actually. I have been to the "pound" and even to a few private adoption agencies and have been left feeling stupified. The application process that one has to go through to "adopt" a dog is almost offensive. I had one place tell me that becuase the dog would be home alone while I worked, that I wasn't a good candidate to adopt a dog!? Huh, say what? Because I work full time to support my family means that I'm not the best person to take care of a dog? I take care of a toddler (by my self) don't I!! So, then we went looking to buy a dog from the pet store that we regularly frequent. The only dog that my daughter really liked was a $600 puggle (pug & beagle mix) and in good conscience, I just can't fork over that kind of cash for anything except rent. Where else can you find a dog? Craigslist of course! I was shocked but there are a plethora of available dogs on there. SOme for free and some for "a small re-homing fee" and some for $$$$ (although CL aks that you don't do this, people do ti anyway). Finding the right dog for us has been exhausting but I know in the end it will have all been worth it (I hope)!

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Regarding coverings for hardwood floors, my husband and I found some success with kilim rugs. We have 2 American Eskimos (rescues both), so there is generally white fur to be found everywhere. The patterns of the kilim rugs help hide toddler spillage and tend to simply look properly worn in from the (fairly even) coating of white fur. I'm shocked at how vibrant they really are when I run the vacuum!

With respect to vacuums, I can highly recommend investing a bit more to get a vacuum capable of sucking up all that fur. We killed several before finally shelling out for a Miele that is now going on 8 years old and still works great.

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I too tried going through the pug rescue orgs here, but it's getting to be more like adopting a child. You have to basically be a stay at home pet parent to even get a foot in the door. Working full time in a pet friendly office next to a doggy daycare apparently wasn't good enough. And since I lived on the wrong side of the Potomac, they couldn't make their 3 surprise home visits.

I ended up going to a breeder for my pug. Sure, he sheds, but I find that using a shedding blade on him outside once a week or so really cuts down on the mess inside. And my toddler is Mr. Clean and loves vacuuming to the point of manufacturing messes to vacuum, so that isn't a problem.

I would also recommend not buying pet insurance, but instead, putting what you would have spent on premiums into a high yield savings account you started with a couple of hundred dollars. Most of the pet insurance programs require you to pay out of your pocket first anyway, and I was never able to get reimbursed for any of the "covered" vet expenses.

Pet emergencies aren't going to run into the hundreds of thousands, but they can run pretty close to the $10k mark. Back in the 80s, a broken pug leg cost us around $700 to fix, and I can't imagine it's gone down any. Trust me, you'll be glad you have that cushion to fall back on if something happens. And if you never use it, you'll have a nice rainy day fund since most dogs live 12-18 years.

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We've got a good combination of flooring-- hardwoods in the kitchen, den, dining room with Berber carpet in the bedrooms. All food and pets are kept on the hardwoods but kid play in bedrooms is more comfortable on carpet.

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Here's some advice right back at you: we have hardwood and tile all over our house, and we've basically given up on rugs except in my sons' room, where the animals don't go often. We were maxed out at five animals, and we're now at four, and the pet hair does get everywhere, but at least with hardwoods and tile, you can see it, which is a good motivator to vacuum.

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Also, regarding the breath... The more often you can feed your dog some raw meaty bones, the better their teeth will be. If you switch to a completely raw diet, chances are that you will never have to spend a penny on a doggy dentist. Plus, there are a ton of other benefits too: natural weight maintenance, reduction in food allergies and therefore skin conditions, and the biggie for us - no more poop to scoop in the backyard. It crumbles to nothing after drying out for a couple of day. Oh, and it is cheaper than premium kibble and you don't have to worry about the dog food recalls.

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this is for BabyLove77,
If you work full time who will let the dog out to go the bathroom? Who will check to see if it has water?Who will give it exercise? I'm sure you don't leave your daughter home alone all day. The shelter was just being responsible so that 6 months from now you don't bring the dog back. Don't be ignorant and look for insults where there aren't any.

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What a terrible article. I understand it was written with the intent of being humorous, but seriously? If shedding is your biggest concern, you shouldn't have a pet, period. As someone who works in animal rescue as well as animal healthcare, there are far more important issues to consider when thinking about getting a dog. What about size? Will you take it with you when you move? How will you respond if it bites someone? Do the circumstances matter? Will you be able to afford annual medical and potential emergency care? Are you prepared to change you life style and schedule to accommodate your dogs needs? Are you willing to commit to being active with your dog? Do you need your dog to get along with other dogs? cats?
Trust me, shedding is the least of your worries, and while I again say that I understand this was written humorously, there are clearly too many people out there who will take this seriously. Just look at how many animals end up in shelters every year...

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Do not get a shedding dog....you will resent all the time and mess they make...get a non shedding dog...our home does not look or smell like a dog lives here...do your research well for a great breeder.. go visit them before you commit to purchase a dog from them...take your dog to school to become a well trained member of your family...ENJOY!

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With 3 dogs, a Golden Retriever, long haired black labrador retriever and a shipoo, I have given up throw rugs in a lot of the rooms, but the hardwood floor was the best investment made since it's so easy to keep clean, dander doesn't get buried in it like carpeting. If you have time to own a pet I strongly recommend the use of a furminator on your shedding dog or cat at least twice a week and the simple addition of Alaskan Salmon oil to their daily food. Recommended by their trainer, the salmon oil alone can reduce shedding by 90%.

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If you are even THINKING about buying from a pet store, google PUPPY MILLS, first. The pet store puppy industry should be banned altogether. Either adopt a dog and expect issues or buy a puppy after doing extensive research on the breed, finding a reputable breeder, and making both a financial and emotional committment for 10-14 years. AND, it is not fair to a dog to leave them home alone all day while working....consider a cat in that case.

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My daughteer gave me a Dachsund after my wife passed away. Whe is five years old and apparently house broken. She had an accident at home once and I yelled at her telling her she had to go out to do her duties. She has not had an accidednt since. I think she can understand the English Language. Anyway, she is a joyful companion and a great companion.

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To anyone having a hard time adopting a dog...go to local Vets and Dog Trainers! They ALWAYS know people who have dogs that need a family. A lot of times, some owners will have to suddenly move and leave their dogs. And unfortunately, dogs and puppies are left at their doors all the time. My Vet trys to get me to adopt a new dog every time I go there.
Hope this helps! :)

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Some great comments in the postings. We have two dogs; one big, one small. The big one sheds the small one does not. Rescued one, bought the other from a friend who bred Yorkies. Shedding advice, Hardwood, tile and strong vacuum. We have all three and it isn't a problem unless you let the house go for weeks at a time without cleaning. Don't let the shedding thing be an issue. Our big dog is the best dog I've ever had, I would not trade him for the anything. You make accomodations for those you love, you do it for your dog(s) too.

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You have to spend some time brushing the dog -- if it sheds a great deal, the more you have to brush it. This also makes the coat stronger. Putting a bit of oil in the food on a regular basis will also help -- even chicken broth (not the cubes!!!) will help. A bit of rosemary and thyme will also help. After brushing, "pet" the dog with a dryer sheet. This will make any of the hair that does come off easier to clean up. As far as any doggie odor, including breath, put parsley in the food. Many people shy away from garlic powder (it really is not harmful), but it also actually removes order and helps in many other ways. There are no studies that show any harm comes from garlic powder unless you pour it on too heavy, but excess is not good for anything. You should learn how to brush your dogs teeth (get them used to this early on), but use toothpaste made specially for dogs -- NOT human toothpaste as it will destroy a dog's teeth rather quickly. Dog toothpaste is made so that even if you only get it on the teeth, it will still clean and it is digestable where human toothpaste is not.

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I too had a huskey mixed dog....his name was Buddy.
I gave up on rugs and had tiled floors. He was the best dog in the world. He passed away 10 years ago at the age of 15 and y'know I bet some of my duct work still has some of his fur in there.

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Everything you complained about has a relatively simple solution but WILL take some thought and extra effort on your part. A good dog is always worth more than a stupid floor, and Jori is in your life for a purpose. Heads up!

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My husband & I spent a good year researching the best possible dog to have since we had 2 young children. We didnt' want long hair (we had a black cocker spaniel BEFORE kids & that was a lot of work then). What we came up with was a Boxer. Don't let the looks fool you. We have to say the one we have is the best! She doesn't shed like a long hair (it's so little you can hardly notice) and she loves everyone in the family (she's not a one-person dog).She is very protective of you if you stay home.
But like all dogs look at the personality. Can't say you won't get a BAD dog, but if you can, see if you can spend time with it (either where you get it or ask to have a weekend or week to see the interaction you get out of the dog). (If the person doesn't allow it or let you get your money back then I wouldn't buy from that person). I happened to get my dog thru a private sale. (No breeder or pet shop). A suggestion too, buy older. We got ours at 9 months old & was already potty trained. Look at private sales. Sometimes the person has to get rid of the dog just because they are moving. Good luck in your quest!! =)

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I volunteer at a no-kill shelter. Our application process is very detailed and requires veterinary checks, home checks, and reference checks (provided by the applicant). The last thing we want is for a dog to be returned to the shelter because it is not a "good match". That is why so much time and energy is spent screening applicants. It is not to say you are a bad applicant; we want to ensure it is a good match. We work with these dogs day in and day out and know their behaviors, likes, and dislikes and feel very strongly about the types of homes in which they (and their families) will thrive. Many of our shelter residents are surrendered dogs from families that did not do their homework or understand the time and financial commitment and it was not a good match. And, good luck with your dog from the deplorable puppy mill...oops....pet store.

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