Siberian Husky.

Xeph

And as an add on, there is no such thing as a Teacup Poodle or Teacup Chihuahua ;-) Poodles come in three sizes (four over in europe)...Toy, Miniature, and Standard (in Europe they have a size called "dwarf")

wolfsong442

I didn't know that. It's very good that they do that. So when you buy a puppy, you can request a certain temperment? And if you are going to keep the puppy you buy from a breeder as solely a companion pet or maybe to use for agility (I'd LOVE to try agility one day), they don't tell you that you can't spay or neuter a dog? It would be great if I pay five hundred to nine hundred dollars for a dog and they pay for the spay/neuter, but that isn't likely to happen...

Well, the teeniest, tineyest little chihuahua and poodle...XD

JenTN

A reputable breeder will breed for the best temperment of the breed, and then can pick out the puppy best for your situation. Unless you are going to show, a breeder will sell the puppy on a spay/neuter contract, meaning it is required that you have your puppy spayed or neutered.

wolfsong442

Do they pay for the spay/neuter or do you have to?

JenTN

The buyer pays for the spay/neuter. Another benefit of adopting, most shelters include the spay/neuter in the adoption fee Bo was vaccinated, microchiped, and neutered, for $100, and he came home w/ a bag of puppy food.

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SpudNZasha

wolfsong -

it seems like you've already made your decision (a good one from what it sounds like!), but i just wanted to put my two cents in even though im coming at this a bit late...

I'm 23... I do work, go to school, and volunteer at the same time... and I have a husky (10 months old) and a shepherd/pit mix (1 1/2 yrs), and rent an apartment in the city.

It really depends on what you do for work, and what your school schedule is like...and just how dedicated you want to be.

For me, I go to school four days a week from 9am-noon, then I'm home the rest of the day. I work only on weekends when my roommate is at home, so my dogs are barely ever alone..and I volunteer when I can, keeping the dogs in mind. We have a large gated/fenced courtyard that they play in a few times a day (about 30 minutes each playtime).


Additionally, I run with my husky every day and she's still got huge amounts of energy. Consequently, I've lost 60 pounds since I got her - 20 more to go! She also goes to the dog park 4-5 times a week, and it's still not enough. Could you handle that? I dont do nearly enough as RBark does with his huskies and I still know I do more than half the dog owners on the planet.

Something more though - you mentioned you have a cat?.. Had you done any research at all concerning huskies and cats? They have a VERY high prey drive... my husky HATES cats... good luck with that. I know it wont matter right now because you decided to wait, but.... please, please do your research on what breeds are okay with cats.


btw harrise - your dogs are GORGEOUS!!!

So with that... I'm glad you're waiting a bit and/or considering fostering or getting an adult dog or anything other than getting a husky.... because GOSH I love my girl (Zasha)... but she REALLY is like having a human 2-yr old running around.... only its a 2 year old that loves chewing wicker and leather and vinyl and hates to obey a single command ...and I swear she laughs in my face when I tell her no.... but she's the pup for me

Namaste

D

wolfsong442

Ah. Oh well, if I can dish out nine hundred dollars for a puppy, I can manage to pay for the neuter. The rest of my animals will be adopted, so I don't have to worry about them.




I am going to get a husky one day. Probably once my schedual settles down and I have the time to devote to one. They are by far my favorite breed, and I couldn't imagine not having one one day.

And don't worry about the cat. I don't plan on taking it with me. When I move, I might get a ferret ( I've ALWAYS wanted one), but if I get the husky and the ferret, I'd keep them apart all the time. I read about their high prey drive XD. I probably won't get any more cats...again...I'm a dog person XD

sillylilykitty

What are you talking about cats can love you My cat loves me, sometimes it seems a bit too much, well not really (If I leave the apartment without saying goodbye she will meow for me at the door for around 5 minutes). And I love her just as much.

Im in college now, cant get a dog for another 1-3 years (), never had a dog. My concern with me getting a dog is that Lily (my cat) and I wont be as close anymore. It just depends on the individual cats personality. Just like dogs, you dont want a Husky because it is not lovey enough for you. I dont want an Ibizan Hound because they are not lovey enough for me. So I know how you feel about wanting the dog to love you.

This is a great forum with lots of knowledgeable members (as Im sure you have learned).

Max'sHuman

Haven't finished catching up on reading this thread, but just wanted to comment on this while I was thinking of this. This is totally wrong. In fact, many people will say that an adult shelter dog has an especially close bond to their owner. I'm not sure if it's that they know they were rescued or if it's a relief to have some peace after the craziness of the shelter...all I know is it's a frequent observation. And you know what? I experienced it first hand. It took very little time for me and Max to develop and undeniably deep bond and he was about 3 when I adopted him. It didn't hurt that he already came housetrained and with decent house manners.

One more thing to add, I just saw the post about the breeds you want to have one day. Keep in mind that the "teeniest tiniest" dogs could easily be injured by giant dogs. I know Harrise has a teeny dog with big ones, but then again just yesterday someone started a thread because her Great Dane accidentally injured her 18 lb. cocker spaniel. If you are getting the smallest of the small a misplaced paw could kill. Seriously. And also, I think you mentioned you plan to only rescue and that is great because any breeder who sells "teacup" dogs is a BYB. I think someone mentioned that already so sorry if I'm being redundant here....

Anyway, good luck with your new dog!

wolfsong442

My cat doesn't love me XD My cat doesn't love anyone but himself. In fact, I think he HATES everyone except when he wants food.

Yes, I love the affection that dogs give and I've never met a cat that gave the same kind of affection.



Thanks for the concern. Everyone on this forum is amazing. I won't hesitate to adopt an older dog now.

I'll make sure that the giants are gentle with the tinies. That or make sure they aren't running around at the same time. I would hate to know that one of my dogs accidently trampled the other one...

Really? No one mentioned that breeders of tiny dogs were backyard breeders. I was seriously considering buying one from a breeder because I couldn't find any tiny ones on Petfinder, though, there might be some on there in a few years when I get ready.

It's always been my dream to help rescue dogs. In fact, I'd lovelovelove to start up my own rescue one day, but I don't know if it's going to happen.

sillylilykitty

I know some Tonkinese that give dog type affection and Im sure there are rescue/pound kitties that do too. Not trying to get you to get another cat (sounds like you never want another one anyway) I just want you to know that there are a lot of cats that do love their owners and even some cats that love everybody they meet. But it is true they are not the same as dogs. I love cats and dogs and I think they are both great and they have different things to offer people.

Now how long before you can get a dog?

Max'sHuman

Well don't misunderstand, I think I worded this poorly, some breeds are pretty tiny. It's those that are breeding for these "teacup" sizes or sizes that are below the standard for the dog that you have to watch out for. Say the AKC standard says breed X is supposed to be 8 lbs. That's a pretty small dog, right? Well some breeders advertise 4 lb. Breed X dogs and say they are special or rare or something like that, when really it's just probably a lot of inbreeding and other unsavory practices. So just be aware of these kinds of scams and cretins and you will be fine. I think ethical breeding practices have been discussed to death on this forum and by now you must have an idea of the kinds of things to look for so I won't belabour the point.

BTW it can be DANG hard to find tiny dogs or small dogs or certain breeds on Petfinder. Why? Because these breeds are so popular the shelter doesn't even have time to list them. They are adopted the same day they are available. So if you want to go the rescue route I recommend stalking your local shelters. Stop by a couple days a week. And while you're at it, if you have time, volunteer. Then you'll get to know the other employees and they'll be able to look out for you, you'll be doing a good deed, it'll be a win-win situation I think.

wolfsong442

I like cats. I might get another eventually and just train and socialize it better than the one I have now. I would hate to go through this again. XD

I can get a dog definately ( I hope ) within the next year. I need to focus on getting college money and the money to live on my own while I look for a job in the town where my college will be. I haven't yet been accepted, but I'm hopeful that I will be. Anyway, I'm thinking of taking out twenty thousand in student loans so I can rent an apartment for a while while I look for a job, but finding a job that can support a college student with no fallback isn't going to be easy. I'm not looking forward to it at all.


I don't think I could volunteer at a shelter. I already volunteer at a rescue in my area and they've told me pretty bad stories about how the shelter isn't cooperative and how they just believe in killing animals. This has pretty much put me off of the shelter here in town. I don't know what Lafayette's ( the place where I'll be moving to) shelter is like because I haven't spent much time there at all, but I think that I would fall in love with a dog and come back to find it dead the next day. I get attatched easily. Plus, I totally disagree with the shelter's practice of euthanizing dogs if they aren't adopted.

RBark

Are you talking about Lafayette, CA?

You might disagree with shelters that put dogs down if they are not adopted. But if we did not do it, where would all these dogs live? Should the dogs that are not adopted live in 24x36 crate for their entire lives because nobody can take them in, there's not enough volunteers to walk them, and so on?

It's not such a cut and dry answer. There are some things far worse than death, and this is one of them.

wolfsong442

No, Lafayette Indiana.

I know without the killing in shelters there would be dangerous overcrowding, but I also know that if there were more no kill shelters, then we wouldn't need to kill anyone. Have you heard of the Best Friends animal sanctuary in Utah? I think it's the largest animal rescue in the states. If there were more of those, there would be room for all of the homeless pets in the country. I know right now, at this point in the world, it's a nessesary evil, but that doesn't mean I have to like it at all.

RBark

Yeah nobody likes it. But people help at kill shelters because the more people hands there, the more lives can be saved.

I wish there was a way to make more sanctuaries, but money, ya know, makes the world go round and round unfortunately

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