Family Pet

Hello, jodie & welcome to A2K!

I wish I could help with some good suggestions for you, but I've owned only one dog in my adult life - a cocker spaniel - who was a really lovely natured critter, but silly as anything when it came to walks in parks, crossing roads, etc ... Cats are really more my pet of choice.

However, I'm positive you'll get some useful advice here before too long. Lots of very knowledgeable dog enthusiasts here!

Good luck with it!

Hi Jodie and welcome to A2K :-D

I'm also more of a cat person, but I do know that labs are excellent with kids and others will be along to give you more breeds.

Lots of dog folks in here :-D

I own 2 labs, 3 years old and 8 month old.

They are the friendliest breed of dogs I've ever seen. My dogs would sooner lick you to death than bite you.

They do have a lot of energy though (at least the 8 month old does).

Labs are my favorite because they're so friendly and mild tempered. I thought about getting a dog when my son was little and I even got some books at the library on breeds and temperments and even though I don't remember the other breeds, I was set on getting a lab because of their good nature all around.

Jodie, your children, while small now, won't be small forever. One thing you need to take into consideration is your family's overall lifestyle. Are you athletic? Couch potatoes? Do you (and I'm assuming) and your husband work full-time? Are the kids in school? If you work and the kids are in school, there will be no one in the house for hours. Will you hire a petsitter, or try to crate-train your dog, or take him/her to a doggie day care? Or will you leave him/her outside?

Will you commit to training your dog? How will you handle things if your dog gets separation anxiety? What if the dog chews the furniture (or shoes) or pulls on the leash? Will you walk your dog regularly?

I ask these questions because I've had several dogs. They all have differing challenges and rewards. Information is your friend. Here are a few resources to get you started:

American Kennel Club: http://www.akc.org/breeds/index.cfm This is so you can get an idea of what breeds are out there. Even if you get a mutt, that mutt is composed of two or more breeds and there are interesting things that go along with each breed/group. For example, here's the link about Boston Terriers (the dog in my avatar): http://www.akc.org/breeds/boston_terrier/ All the way at the bottom it includes information on how to shop for that particular breed. If you get a purebred dog, please get it from a reputable breeder. That's someone who will take the dog back if things don't work out, and will help with socializing and who will take pains to assure that genetic diseases aren't passed on to your pooch.

Purebreed rescue: http://www.akc.org/breeds/rescue.cfm If you don't mind an older dog (and they are often trained and more mellow than a puppy, which may turn out to be ideal for your family), please consider going through a purebred rescue outfit, as these groups are as committed to protecting the health and temperament of the breed as breeders are.

Of course there are plenty of mixed breed dogs out there. Please consider getting one from a shelter. Try these links to find a shelter near you: www.MSPCA.org or www.hua.org You can save an animal from almost certain death and get a lifelong family member in the process. You will have less information on temperament so ask a lot of questions of the shelter staff before taking anyone home. I've had both good and bad shelter experiences. Our best dog, Jake, came from a shelter.

Finally, unless you're going to show a purebreed dog, please consider getting him/her spayed or neutered. It is better for the dog's health, more convenient for you and is just plain more responsible.

I was raised up with a variety of dogs from beagles to walker hounds, and my mothers favorite boxers, and pittbulls. Upon getting married, my husband and I raised hounds ourselves, and have had many different breeds through the years from hounds to chows, blue heelers, cockers, blueticks, and one pomapoo....till along come Mojo our Lab.

I wouldn't trade my dog for the world, Mojo has one of the best personalities out of all the dogs we've ever owned. She is fiercly loyal, she's even protective, and goes around with a ball in her mouth 24/7 just waiting for one of us to tell her to bring it to us...so she can fetch it.

So, if size and a feed bill isn't an issue...I'd go with a Lab....



Of course, she's a pup in these pictures, so she'd probably weigh a good 70 pounds now, and still is the boss......

Awwwwwwww!!!!!! :-D

Yeah...I'd grieve myself to death if something happened to her. When we make trips home to Arkansas which is regularly, she goes with us...we don't dare leave her (we have someone that can tend to her for us)

What's so funny, my husband wasn't happy when I brought her home..lol, he fussed for a few days until her realized how smart she was. Now, he's just as attached to her as we are, and had a hand in training her. MOF, she slept with us till she about 9 months old, and we had to kick her out of the bed, she was hogging it...lol She'd start out at the foot of our bed, to end up between us during the night.

But she's basically my dog, she'll do anything I ask her too.......and follows me every step I take....

Ok, if we're going to start showing pictures....

Here's Aston (8 months old)





Here's Porsche (3 years old)

Awwww.......I love the yellow.........love the square head...

Awwwwwwwww, they're beautiful :-D

Hi,

I'm the owner of an adorable miniature schnauzer. He is great with kids, has hair rather than fur so doesn't shed, which is good for allergy sufferers. HOWEVER, he is very high energy!!! When I go to the mailbox he goes crazy when I get back as if I've been gone for hours. And then there's that high pitched bark whenever someone walks by the house with a dog.

He's a snuggler and loves us all to death. He is particularly attached to me and follows me around the house. He's good with other dogs at the dog park too.

Are you folk going to post more pics of your pets? If so, I will be back!

Why sure, we want to seeeeeeeeeeeeee....

I thought about taking a new pic of that cow of a Lab to post in here. :wink: But, too lazy at the moment....

We have an Australian Shepherd...he is amazing with my three little boys. Lots of energy though...but perfect for them...His name is well suited to him...here is Pistol

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We also just adopted a lab puppy mix...she is black and about the cutest little thing I have ever seen...seems to be great with the big ol' dog though...we'll see.

Oh good, mms! Please do!

If I could have a dog, I'd have one just like Marty's! I'm smitten! Irresistible!

But I'd love to know a bit more about that nifty green toy he's gnawing on. Is it an octopus?

Nice Dog Mismi, we just finished a two week stint dog sitting an Aussie Shepard for a friend. The poor chap was 15 years old, down in his hips, half blind and hard of hearing, and whined worse than my children do if there is no milk in the house. :wink: But he whined because he wasn't at home here..........

Msloga wrote:

I'll get a pic of Mo tommorrow....I've been meaning to take some more of her anyways.

And I agree, Marty's dog is soooo cute........makes me want one too.

mismi

Don't confuse me!
He looks terrific, too!
I'd better hot foot it right out of this thread before I really do end up with a dog!

I hope jodie is finding this thread helpful. (Sorry for the digressions. I couldn't help myself.)

Thank you msolga and mms - he's a sweet boy...
they are hard work msolga to be honest...and I love them - but honestly I would probably just have my kitty if I didn't have the boys. It is truly like having 5 children!