Dog Search

[Sean]

Alright so I've decided it's time for me to get a new dog and I'm looking for some suggestions on how to go about locating one. I've done the petfinder search and I stopped by my local pound (but everything they had was either a pitt or rott mix which would be fine as a puppy but they were all like 3 years old and you have to question how they were raised). So I'm looking for some other suggestions on where I might look. I don't have anything particular in mind and I don't have a preferance for purebred/mutt/etc. I'd like something young rather but I'm open minded about it. The only thing really being that I don't want a small yappy dog as they just piss me off.

[Artha]

Get something from the SPCA.

[Viridian]

I like the aussie shepard, they're a medium sized dog. They don't yap, least I don't recall them being yappy....but I think its always best to go through an animal shelter, because those animals need good homes. Also, Petsmart works with shelters, who usually foster abandoned animals, the animals they carry are also usually already house trained and most times fixed and have current shots, which saves you time and money.

[Edited on 9-20-2005 by Viridian]

[Soulpieced]

http://www.netpets.com/cats/catresc/newjersey.htm

Link will take you to SPCA sites sorted by city in New Jersey.

[Sean]

Originally posted by Soulpieced
http://www.netpets.com/cats/catresc/newjersey.htm

Link will take you to SPCA sites sorted by city in New Jersey.

I already went to the place in my town listed on that site. But I'll try some of the other local places this coming weekend.

[Ravenstorm]

Local animal hospitals. There's often notices of puppies and kittens up for adoption by the owners.

Raven

[MangledKitty]

Might want to check your local paper, too. Usually people are advertising about a litter of puppies or young dog's that need homes. :)

[Edited on 9-20-2005 by MangledKitty]

[Chastittee]

All of the above are good ideas. If you want a specific breed, try doing a google search for that breed's animal rescue. Greyhounds are often needed for rescue after they're days at the track are done and they are supposed to be very, very good pets. They're used to a pretty harsh life, so they absolutely adore the love and affection of a "real" home.

My personal favorite is the American Bulldog. Great dogs. We're going to get one again once we have more land for him/her to run on.

[peam]

www.petfinder.com, mang.

I'm going to meet this dude today:

PEAM'S NEW DOG, HOPEFULLY! (http://www.petfinder.com/pet.cgi?action=2&pet=5059669&adTarget=&SessionID=4 3301abc3a9fd2af-app2&display=&preview=1&row=0&tmpl=&stat=)

[Edited on 9-20-2005 by peam]

[Burnt out Priestess]

Very pretty dog and good luck on getting him!

www.petsovernight.com

- Arkans

[Brattt8525]

Petsmarts have adoption days <normally the weekend> you should call them and see if they do that in your town. You can always put your name on a local rescue list and when a dog becomes available that you are looking for they will call you.

[Odysia]

or contact some of the groups that are looking for homes for the animals rescued because of Katrina.

[Wezas]

Originally posted by Odysia
or contact some of the groups that are looking for homes for the animals rescued because of Katrina.

Good call.

[Showal]

There are a large number of animals that need homes due to our soldiers being over in Iraq right now. There are also a few organizations committed to finding them a home. I can't think of any off the top of my head, but I'm sure someone knows of one or can lead you in the right direction.

[Brattt8525]

Originally posted by Odysia
or contact some of the groups that are looking for homes for the animals rescued because of Katrina.

While that is an awesome thought he will have to see if there are any of those animals in his town or close by. If not he will have to pay to have the dog shipped to him which will run about 250.00 dollars <crate health certificate and plane fare>

Add in the fact if he has to have it shipped its not like he can meet the dog to see if the personality is what he wants.

[4a6c1]

http://www.alphataxservices.com/military/classifieds/petfostercare.asp

Miltary pet fostering

[Showal]

oh yeah and tijay, pitts make wonderful dogs. Our nina is fantastic. She's a 2 year old pitt/lab rescue. At first she was a little testy but with the proper training and loving, she's been nothing but awesome. She's even great around kids and other dogs. She was licking our friend's baby's belly and he was just laughing. She plays with my ferrets in the most roughly gentle way that she can and they love it. If you're willing to deal with a pitt, it's not bad to explore those things.

[Sean]

I like pitts actually. I've had one in the past. I'm just apprehensive about getting a 2-3 year old pitt that was raised by someone else. Not so much for my safety but because a lot of times my little cousins will come over and visit or how they'll respond to other dogs/pets if I take it for a walk etc. I think if I were to get a pitt again I'd have to be as a puppy.

[4a6c1]

Greyhounds for the win. When my cat dies I'm getting one. She wont let me get one now though. She dosnt like dogs. :no:

[iomelindi]

Yay! a puppy is going to get a home! :D Adopt adopt!

[Showal]

I dont blame you Tijay, but it might still be worth a look! Maybe we just really lucked out with Nina.

It is good to hear you're looking to adopt. It's kinda sad though that the way other people raise their dog is a major reason people don't adopt older dogs. Who knows what other people do to their animals. It's a really good reason, but it's still sad.

The only thing odd with Nina is if she hears a baby crying, she hides. We think she was got at the same time the last family got a baby, in a hope the dog and kid could grow up together. Of course the dog outgrew the kid and as a puppy was really high energy, so she probably got yelled at or maybe even hit if she knocked over the kid and it started crying. I think she spent close to a year and a half in various adoption places before she finally ended up with us at 2 years old. Poor thing was in a shelter for almost all her life.

Anyone who adopts an older dog, expecially a Pitt, really gets an A+ in my book. Those dogs are really sweet and can be great companions. Really sad that so many are mistreated.

- Arkans

[Sean]

Originally posted by Showal
I dont blame you Tijay, but it might still be worth a look! Maybe we just really lucked out with Nina.

It is good to hear you're looking to adopt. It's kinda sad though that the way other people raise their dog is a major reason people don't adopt older dogs. Who knows what other people do to their animals. It's a really good reason, but it's still sad.

Yea it's tough. There actually was one there though that I was thinking about getting. I'm going to goto like an adoption expo type thing this weekend and if i don't find anything I'll probably go back for him.

The only other thing though about getting a pitt was that all the ones I saw were like jumpers, and I'll probably have to do this anyway, but I'll have to upgrade my fence to like 6+' instead of a 5' fence.

[Edited on 9-20-2005 by Tijay]

[hectomaner]

yeah, pits are nice.

going to check out this pit bull terrior today

such an awesome dog (http://www.petfinder.com/pet.cgi?action=2&pet=5116592&adTarget=&SessionID=4 3304dc23dcdc339-app1&display=&preview=1&row=50&tmpl=&stat=)

[Sean of the Thread]

I adopted a Pit. The cops shot it.

[Warriorbird]

Our downstairs neighbor has one. Great dog.

[Showal]

Originally posted by Arkans
Anyone who adopts an older dog, expecially a Pitt, really gets an A+ in my book. Those dogs are really sweet and can be great companions. Really sad that so many are mistreated.

- Arkans

The sad part is that retards generally get pitbulls and they don't want to spend the time to fully train it properly. They don't treat it right or feed it right. I could have a bunch of dogs and let them live out back in my fenced in yard and not really pay them much attention. They might allow me to come out and feed them, but would they be loving dogs? No, you can't expect that. Some might be friendly dogs and some might be calm dogs, but for the most part they'd be really easily excitable dogs as soon as they get any human attention.

People get a dog and expect it immediately to become a well trained companion. This is not the case. Some dogs, of course, can be raised and just naturally become companion dogs. Golden retreivers come to mind because they're bred to be very eager to please their owner. Not all goldens are like this though and some can and do get vicious. Most likely it's not a "natural" occurance and, while not formally trained, the owners of the dog have been unconciously following the "code" of dogs. Dogs naturally are pack animals. They naturally establish social hierarchies. In order to be the true companion animal people think of when they think of dogs, they need to be submissive or, at the least, see their owner as dominant. That doesn't mean shove them in a cage and really show your dominance because they also need to feel respected if they are going to want to behave in their pack.

I don't know all the dynamics of "dog society". I know some people who really understand it.

Here's my take on the "vicious" dog breeds (sorry to sidetrack your thread, Tijay). I've been the owner of a doberman and now this pitbull. They've both been fantastic dogs. I believe though that they are easily excitable. I have seen it in rottweilers and german shepards too. And even though I don't believe pitbulls to be a "smart" dog, they're pretty freaking intelligent. They get excited when they meet someone new and they get excited when someone starts playing (or running from them). When whomever they are getting excited around starts panicking, the dog also starts to panic - this is where bites come from. Then when the bite happens, people fall back on something along the lines of "it's a vicious breed, they're bred to fight, they're bred to kill". Generally the saying is, "it's never the dog's fault". But with the "vicious" breeds, they're not allowed that same leniency. Animals don't operate by the same standards we do. We need to teach them to operate by our standards. That's why they need to be properly trained and properly disciplined if you want them to behave as such. Of course there are exceptions, sometimes there is something wrong with the dog. Just like sometimes there's something wrong with people that causes them to snap and kill someone else. But I'll say that they're not the only types of dogs that will do it. A chihuahua snapped at me when I was playing with it because it has not been disciplined or made to understand that it is not to act like the dominant animal. Most people wouldn't sue or even think twice about a chihuahua snapping at them, but they will panic the fuck out if your german shepard does the same. (Understandably, since the shepard will cause more damage if it does bite, but it's the same animal mentality)

The worst part of the "vicious" breeds story is that now homeowners' insurance companies are refusing insurance to people who own these dogs. This means that less people are likely to pick out one of these dogs at a shelter. I've seen it happening around here. Shelters are getting filled with these breeds and they are now labelling them as mixes of breeds that are more calm, such as lab/pit, aussie/rottie. It's sad, but that's generally the only way you can get them to be moved out of a shelter and into a home. Our vet, after a long talk with my brother about training, agreed to label Nina as a lab mix, as opposed to a pit mix, so we could maintain our insurance. Vets and shelters will do this for you, if you prove that you are now and will continue to be a responsible owner. Too bad more people don't properly train their dogs or spay/neuter them.

http://www.deviantart.com/view/11454716/

[Wezas]

Get a big dog.

My Penny (155lb+ newfoundland) & 8 year old nephew:

http://members.cox.net/legendwezas/pennyclay.jpg

[Sean]

I wouldn't mind getting a great dane.

[4a6c1]

The people next door to me have a great dane. Its black and white spotted and completely lovely. But apparently those dogs shit and piss more than a racehorse because (i am not exagerating) EVERYTIME I STEP OUTSIDE they are walking it and it is doing one or the other.

[DeV]

Originally posted by Showal
http://www.deviantart.com/view/11454716/ I can't wait to get home and give my 4 month old pitt bull terrier mix a hug. :heart:

Thanks for sharing that.

[Keller]

Originally posted by Tijay
I wouldn't mind getting a great dane.

I was actually reading through this thread with the intention of commenting that you should get a great dane. I know a bunch of breeders in the midwest (indiana and Ohio mostly). Until I moved to Cali I always had a dog and dane's were by far the best. They become a member of the family in ways that make other dogs jealous. My harlequin Strider (named after the Beverly Cleary sequal to Dear Mr. Henshaw) would sit his ass on the couch with his front legs on the ground and watch Seinfeld on Thursday nights with our family. Contrary to conventional wisdom they are one of the best apartment dogs around. They are not hyperactive and prefer to lounge most of the time.

The only problem is they don't live long and by the time you're really attached to them you've got to start dealing with the fact they're dying. It's kinda bittersweet but more sweet than bitter.

Let me know if you need a good breeder. Also if you want to me look into a particular breeder I'll ask around the midwest community. The community here most likely has interacted with the breeders in the NE.

[Edited on 9-20-2005 by Keller]

[hectomaner]

lol wezas, that couch is STYLIN, it belongs in the what is HAWT thread

[Sean of the Thread]

I think I have the same table.

[Showal]

newfoundlands are awesome. This one comes into our yard to play with nina from time to time. When it comes out of the woods, I think it's a bear.

[Showal]

And Dev, I remember my friend looked up a few of those stats and they're true. I say this as nina, the terrible pit bull, is doing this:

[Killer Kitten]

If you live in the NY, NJ area, I'd recommend a trip to North Shore Animal League. They're open 365 days a year, and have tons of dogs and puppies, including many rescued from Katrina.

They're located on Long Island. Here's their website for more information:

http://www.nsalamerica.org/adopt/adoption_center.html

I know I talk about the League a lot, but it's because they're worth talking about. After all, thanks to them I have my Buffy!

[Edited on 9-21-2005 by Killer Kitten]

[Wezas]

Originally posted by hectomaner
lol wezas, that couch is STYLIN, it belongs in the what is HAWT thread

Yeah, the couch is slammin. I've had it for 5 years and it used to be our main couch when we were in the apartment. Now it's in the family room and used as a coat rack and for company.

The table was re-done by my dad a few years ago. It does it's job, and it's got two little drawers that slide out to hold drinks.