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What makes a dog a poor choice for a first-time dog owner?

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consolibyte said:
So I'm thinking about possibly getting a dog- we have lots of land now and I'm working from home, so I have time and am around and could use the company.

I'm keen on getting a dog I can go running with and that can be let outside (we live out in the middle of no-where) and have been looking at Akitas.

I keep reading that Akitas are not a great "first dog owner's dog". Can someone give me some insight into what makes a dog not good for a first time dog owner?
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Dogs are:

1) act like babies for life
2) they will pee everywhere
3) u will need to take them out to shit
4) are attention whores
5) will sleep in your bed
6) require constant attention
7) are delicious
 
I grew up with mutts in the house, but after 5 years with my golden retriever, I couldn't imagine another breed.

only slight downside is that he's a total attention whore. he doesn't like to be alone at all. if you're inside, he'll follow you from room to room, and if you're outside, he's either right here by your side or look at you from out the windows. recently, my parents put him in the back yard while they were in the front. he discovered that that jumping onto my neighbor's retaining wall gave him enough height to jump over our fence so we could join my parents in the front /facepalm

one day when we were playing across the street, my cousin's golden retriever figured out how to nuzzle open the gate so that she could join us. she was ridiculous, though... she also had a seat at the table, where she'd sit perfectly, eat off the plate in front of her, and then sit there until everyone else got up from the table.
 
For a first time dog owner, it really comes down to how much time and exercise you can provide the dog. I would probably recommend an adult dog. They are likely to be more laid back, hopefully already house trained and less destructive in the house. Also, it's not recommend to start running a dog long distances til they're at least 2 years old.

If you're looking for a running partner, hounds and hunting dogs are good choices. I've always had Rhodesian Ridgebacks. They're great outdoor activity partners. And if you give them enough exercise, they're just coach potatoes in the house. They do require a ton of training, as they are very independent and stubborn.

I google'd dog breed selector - http://www.google.com/search?q=dog+...s=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a

Most of them will ask questions on your lifestyle/activity level, how willing you are to dealing with shedding/grooming, willingness to train, etc...

Also, check my sig.
 
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My first time dog (living on my own) was a Siberian Husky. As long as you have a kennel or fenced yard for them (and no access to cats or other pets they will accidently kill), they were perfect.
 
Sismar said:
Capt, I love your signature!
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Thanks!

My two rescues:

KhanandMojo6.jpg


A pic from last fall. Khan, the Ridgeback, has filled out to 115lbs.
 
I haven't met a person who has/had a golden retriever and hasn't absolutely adored it. They're smart enough, very family and stranger friendly by nature, and would make good use of your yard. The only downside I would say is the long fur gets everywhere, but that's the case with many pets.
 
gorcorps said:
I haven't met a person who has/had a golden retriever and hasn't absolutely adored it. They're smart enough, very family and stranger friendly by nature, and would make good use of your yard. The only downside I would say is the long fur gets everywhere, but that's the case with many pets.
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furminator.jpg


Furminator is serious bizness.
 
Go to the pound and walk alot of the dogs you like.

I have a pound puppy, err dog now, and she has been great. I have been bad at times, but that is mostly due to the 5 month old who is the number one priority in the house. Anyways, she is husky/shepherd/ lab/ terror mix. It has been interesting as the husky/ terror has been the dominant traits, although she looks like a lab with errors that stick straight up. Ball of energy and fun and is very good with the newborn. Total disaster when left alone outside as she has a little separation anxiety early on that turned into a little boredom now.

We created a dog run out of the side yard and she spends most of her time outside and seem to do much better than having free reign of the yard.

Anyways, good luck with the pick and it does change your life for the better if you put the time and attention in.
 
HomerSapien said:
Go to the pound and walk alot of the dogs you like.

I have a pound puppy, err dog now, and she has been great. I have been bad at times, but that is mostly due to the 5 month old who is the number one priority in the house. Anyways, she is husky/shepherd/ lab/ terror mix. It has been interesting as the husky/ terror has been the dominant traits, although she looks like a lab with errors that stick straight up. Ball of energy and fun and is very good with the newborn. Total disaster when left alone outside as she has a little separation anxiety early on that turned into a little boredom now.

We created a dog run out of the side yard and she spends most of her time outside and seem to do much better than having free reign of the yard.

Anyways, good luck with the pick and it does change your life for the better if you put the time and attention in.
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I think you meant "terrier" or, maybe not. 🙂
 
keep in mind that although in film dogs are shown chained so some house out in the yard in many places (outside hick town) it's illegal to keep a dog outside when you are not supervising it and/or has access into the home.

There are actually a lot of rule on how outdoor housing/runs must be constructed in many cities due to idiot owners just throwing their pets into a run and leaving them all day.

Basically if your dog is spending most of their waking hours when you are home not seeing you, then it's not a pet.
 
A husky is an awful idea for a first dog. Unless you get lucky, you'll have something in the range of 40-60 lbs with the athleticism and personality of a housecat. Trust me on this - I love huskies and grew up with two of them. They were 90% outdoor dogs for a reason. They needed the space, room to run around, dig, nip at each other, and of course, chase me around. We got lucky in that ours didn't have much of a prey drive, but we suspect they might have been shepherd mixes in some way. Lucky because we had cats, our neighbors had cats, and the dogs could easily clear the 6 foot fence when they wanted to and roam the neighborhood. Don't get me wrong, they are really fun dogs, but they're not a great first dog and not good unless you have a lot of space for them. Plus, if you're not 100% sure you have the time for them, you might find little worse than a bored husky. Ours were pretty well behaved, but they still had moments where they were going to do exactly what they wanted when they wanted. When someone tells you a husky sheds twice a year, but for 6 months at a time, they mean it too. I seriously would not recommend one unless you have lots of time for it, live in a cooler area, and have lots of outdoor space with boundaries for the dog.

A lab is probably your ideal choice. Again, you still have to have time for it. The only reason I'd say a lab over a golden is that a golden retriever is going to need a little bit more time. When they get bored, they might collect stuff around the house and start hiding it. I've also seen some that collect random stuff and pile it up in the middle of a room while the owner is at work. Actually, its really funny.

Come to think of it, a mutt is probably the best bet for a first dog. Of course, I happen to think they're the best dogs anyway. Plus you can go to the pound and find one that is hilarious looking - always need that in a dog.
 
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sjwaste said:
A husky is an awful idea for a first dog. Unless you get lucky, you'll have something in the range of 40-60 lbs with the athleticism and personality of a housecat. Trust me on this - I love huskies and grew up with two of them. They were 90% outdoor dogs for a reason. They needed the space, room to run around, dig, nip at each other, and of course, chase me around. We got lucky in that ours didn't have much of a prey drive, but we suspect they might have been shepherd mixes in some way. Lucky because we had cats, our neighbors had cats, and the dogs could easily clear the 6 foot fence when they wanted to and roam the neighborhood. Don't get me wrong, they are really fun dogs, but they're not a great first dog and not good unless you have a lot of space for them. Plus, if you're not 100% sure you have the time for them, you might find little worse than a bored husky. Ours were pretty well behaved, but they still had moments where they were going to do exactly what they wanted when they wanted. When someone tells you a husky sheds twice a year, but for 6 months at a time, they mean it too. I seriously would not recommend one unless you have lots of time for it, live in a cooler area, and have lots of outdoor space with boundaries for the dog.

A lab is probably your ideal choice. Again, you still have to have time for it. The only reason I'd say a lab over a golden is that a golden retriever is going to need a little bit more time. When they get bored, they might collect stuff around the house and start hiding it. I've also seen some that collect random stuff and pile it up in the middle of a room while the owner is at work. Actually, its really funny.
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I grew up with a lab/malamute mix. She could jump to the top of our 8 foot fence and vault off it, no problem (including the rosebushes on both sides). Smart as dickens too - she'd get out and take herself on nice long runs, and as soon as a cop or dogcatcher started following her she'd lead them straight home. Loved her but I would NEVER have a dog that smart again. Way too much work.
 
A lab is probably your ideal choice. Again, you still have to have time for it. The only reason I'd say a lab over a golden is that a golden retriever is going to need a little bit more time. When they get bored, they might collect stuff around the house and start hiding it. I've also seen some that collect random stuff and pile it up in the middle of a room while the owner is at work. Actually, its really funny.
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hah.

my parents' golden totally does that. it likes to nab food off the counter, but not to eat -- I'll find totally untouched in his crate (last time I dogsat, it took a loaf of bread, a bag of marshmallows, and 2 pieces of toast (the toast was actually for him anyways, but I was letting it get stale since he seems to prefer stale bread))
 
As a dachshund owner for the last 14 years, I don't recommend one for beginners. My family got one when I was 10, then again when I was 15, and now I got my own at 24. Basically, we fucked up training with the first two before I was really able to do it correctly.

They are one of the most stubborn breeds to housebreak, too. My husband and I got him at 8 weeks, and we monitored him CONSTANTLY. I don't mean "okay, he's sitting next to me so I'm going to get some work done," I mean WE'RE NEVER TAKING OUR EYES OFF YOU. Basically, every few minutes if he even started to sniff anything, we'd take him outside and waited until he peed. In the dead of the night when he'd start whining, we'd wake up and take him outside, waiting for him to go to the bathroom. When he would start doing it, we'd go "go pee, go pee, go pee," over and over again and then praise him like hell when he finished (+ a treat). It took us 2 weeks of 24/7 training to get him housebroken!

Granted, he still pees in the house but it's incredibly rare. The first month or so he was adorable and tiny so we'd bring him everywhere and I'd put him in my purse, but now he's 16lbs and gets separation anxiety whenever we go out. Start them immediately on making sure they're okay with you leaving the house.

Also, training is difficult with a doxie. Ours is an asshole. He may have been housebroken (he has never once gone in his crate, even when he was a baby), but he's an asshole. He'll jump up and try to lick your face but his teeth can hit you and that is BAD. He takes socks (and people think the dryer is bad), underwear, and will jump up on the kitchen table or the husband's desk if he's angry at us and just destroy anything on there. One time he was angry I wouldn't let him sit on my lap, so he looked at me all smug and WHILE HE WAS LOOKING AT ME knocked over the remote. Then he gave me that smug ass little look that said, "Yeah bitch I just did that, what are you going to do?"

Oh yeah, and acclimate your dog to other dogs early on, and with humans. We let kids pet him when he was a puppy all the time so he'd get used to it if we ever had kids, and he wouldn't try to kill them in their sleep or something from jealously.

Hope that helped!
 
"(he has never once gone in his crate, even when he was a baby)"

Owner error, not dog error.
 
i grew up with dogs, had dogs all my life. i just got my first dog on my own. luckily i got a smart dog with a good temperament, because i had no idea how much my parents did that i never knew about.

ended up with a cockapoo if that makes a difference. obviously that's not what you're looking for, but my kids love her.

Picture0062.jpg
 
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I love huskies, but will probably settle on a golden retriever eventually.

Bull dog might be perfect for my lazy ass though.
 
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