Question from a hopeful first time owner

oatmeal_jackson

Good afternoon,
I'm looking for some advice.

Myself, my brother, and a 3rd roomate live in a pet-friendly apartment complex, and we are looking to becoming first time dog owners.

We have been looking around for a young, small dog to adopt, but it seems that all the local pet adoption agencies require a vet reference with past pet history. We don't have any of that, as none of us have ever been primary owner of any of our past pets.

Basically, i'm looking for advice on what path to take to get us a "4th roomate". We are definitely ready and very much looking forward to taking care of a dog, but we aren't sure how to get past the road blocks at the adoption agencies.

Any advice you can provide would be helpful!

jbray01

i've had that problem before in that all my previous pets were owned by my mom.

You can specify on the adoption form the name that the vet record is under. They really want to check to make sure that all pets that you have owned were kept UTD on shots and regularly vetted.

oatmeal_jackson

Thank you, that helps. I'll try contacting the places before I send in an application to see if something like that would suffice.

I know a lot of people are opposed to purchasing animals in pet stores...but does anyone know if the same sort of screening goes on there? Or can anyone purchase a dog who has the money to do so?

ara28

Some vet offices do adoptions there, I don't know what their requirements are, but i would think if you're taking the time to walk in a vet's office that you would certainly take the animal to the vet, and I'm sure the vets office has a way to track whether or not you're keeping the animal UTD since the adoption took place there. I don't know though, as I've never tried.

oatmeal_jackson

I definitely understand the need to be particular about who adopts, but on the other hand it basically excludes anyone who has never owned before. I only just started looking, but I can already tell it might get frustrating.

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CalamityJane

I don't know for sure, as I've never bought a dog from a "store", but one of my nieces and her roommate bought a small dog from a pet shop a couple of years ago. I would bet money that there was no screening at all; they neither one had had a dog of their own before. They bought the dog on a whim, impulsively, and split the cost.

My niece has him now. I don't approve of "pet stores" only because it supports puppy mills and their "products". But, at least, I do know that my niece's dog has a good home.

oatmeal_jackson

I have read about puppy mills and would really rather not support them, but on the other hand...the puppy is there already, and SOMEONE has to take care of them.
If it wasn't so difficult for an inexperienced owner like myself to adopt, I would definitely rather do that...but I don't meet several of the qualifications that the agencies look for in an owner for their dogs.

Poly

First of all, let me say that adopting a rescued pet is a good thing.

I have some experience with adoption/rescue groups and I would say that those questions serve two purposes.

1. To try to get some information on your previous pet history - mostly to determine if you are a responsible pet owner. If you haven't had any pets before, just be honest about it and say that. In most cases, your inexperience won't be held against you. However, if you are going for a dog that may need a very experienced owner, you could get some push-back from the agency. But I think you will agree that is the way it should be.
   
   
2. To try to get some feel if you are going to give your new pet the proper medical care. If you haven't yet picked out the local vet that you are going to use - do it now. And let the vet know that an adoption/rescue agency may be contacting them about you. Just be up-front with them that this is your first pet and it should be OK. Most vets are quite supportive about adoptions.
   
   Leaving out a vet name completely probably will get you rejected outright. And many agencies will verify the information you provide, so make sure you follow up.

If you don't want to go through these checks for some reason, I would forget about adopting through a rescue/adoption agency. Most of them - especially the breed-specific rescues - are rather picky these days about who they will adopt to, for obvious reasons.

gingersmom

I recently adopted a dog from a shelter, and did not have to provide the name of my vet for my current (or previous) pets... I was just asked a few questions about each of the pets. And I know that the shelter adopts to novice pet owners as well. The only cases that I have run across where animals would not be adopted out to novice owners is in some breed rescues, such as for German Shepherds (which can sometimes be challenging dogs for a novice to own.)

I think if you keep looking, you will find a shelter willing to adopt to you. A good shelter will also be able to guide you to dogs with temperaments that are more likely to fit with your lifestyle.

Finally, here's a lengthy old thread about how to find a good breeder to sell you a puppy. I strongly recommend buying from a breeder, rather than a store, if you are going to buy rather than adopt. It can be hard to tell a good breeder from a miniature puppy mill, so this thread offers a number of tips:

http://www.dogforums.com/2-general-d...dogs-come.html (Where good dogs come from.)

oatmeal_jackson

Very helpful. thank you! I'll find time to stop by a local vet's office and maybe even ask them for advice on fitting breeds, breeders, and agencies

FilleBelle

If a rescue won't adopt to you (which I think they will, if you keep looking), then try your local pound/shelter/SPCA/humane society. Most such organizations have volunteers who know the dogs very well and can help match you with one that will suit your circumstances.

Please do not buy from a pet store. You are not ignorant...you know about puppy mills and the horrors thereof. Please do not line the pockets of people with poor or even dangerous breeding practices.

Mdawn

FilleBelle summed it up quite nicely why people should buy from a pet store. However, I'd like to mention another aspect of pet store puppies that people don't really think about. I know a few people who have pet store puppies and I suspect my very own Lab was a pet store pup before he was dumped out in the middle of nowhere as a puppy by his previous owners. In my experience, pet store pups have a tendency to have many behavioral issues. Think about what their life is like while they are in a pet store...they are in a small cage for hours on end while most times they are "forced" in pee and poo in their enclosure. Puppyhood is obviously a very formative time in a dog's life. So when someone finally buys them they end up with a dog with A LOT of behavioral issues...dogs with no bite inhibition, extremely difficult to house train and crate train because they are used to eliminating in confined spaces, dogs that just don't know how to behave correctly because the time they SHOULD have been learning how to behave, they were instead locked in an enclosure. It is a lot of times a recipe for disaster. At least in my experience of knowing people who have purchased these pups. That is why I think that my Lab used to be a pet store puppy...when I first got him he had no idea of how to act and had no concept of boundaries. It was obvious that he hadn't been around many people and had NO experience with other animals. He was extremely destructive and just a very difficult pup to raise in EVERY aspect. It wasn't an enjoyable experience having him as a puppy and I didn't really even get to enjoy him until he became an adult. It's sad but very true.

Also, something else to think about: If your willing to spend big money for a pet store pup, then why not buy from a responsible breeder? It would be a much safer bet because the pups would have bite inhibition, and would have a concept of boundaries. You would be able to meet the parents or at least the Mom and have an IDEA of what the pups temperament will be like. Also, you will have a better idea of the puppy's health. It's just a safer bet all around.

I would never in a million years buy a pet store puppy, even if the pet store had my absolute dream dog...(which is a female apricot English Mastiff )

If rescues are leary of adopting to you, just explain your situation...that you've never had a dog of your very own and therefore have no vet references. Or you could just try local county animal shelter as most have little to no requirements to meet. At least mine doesn't. Right now, I could walk into mine and say, "I want that dog." and walk about 5 minutes later with very little questions asked. They just want to empty the space to house another incoming dog. Also very sad but true.

But please PLEASE don't buy a pet store pup...yes the puppy is already here, but at the same time your giving money to people who are responsible for the abuse of dogs. If people keep buying the puppies, they will just keep producing MORE pups...its a never ending cycle...UNLESS people stop buying them.

Good luck!

Darkmoon

But everytime you buy froma petstore, your paying the people who bred the puppy mill dog to pop out more. Your just adding to the promblem. Also by buying one of these dogs your risking your dogs health. It's horrible what is bred into these dogs and not bred out of there. If the mom and dad dog can breed, even if its hips are bad or the poor dogs can't see.

Keep looking around for shelters though, there will be one to adopt from.

When I was looking to adopt Nubby after we put Carter (Carter came from a shelter that would allow anyone that didn't look shadey to walk out with a dog as long as they had the cash for it. Bad bad bad experence.) down, we were out at the shelter every few days, just looking. I spoke to the people there about my issues with Carter, what I did for him, and why I did what I did before I even spoke to them about adopting. I can tell you what, this shelter has NEVER or rarely allowed a dog to go to a home with out a fence before. I did/do not have a fenced in yard. I have a stake 3ft in the ground with a steel wire cable out there for potty runs and I never leave the dog outside alone. With me building a relationship with the shelter and being honest with them, they still allowed me to adopt a dog. Heck if they even feel a little iffy on an adoption they do a house check, with me they did not. I built up enough trust in them over a 2 week time that they knew Nubby would have a great home.

Build a relationship with the shelter! Volunteer for the shelter for a bit. Show them who you are and visit often once you get your dog. You may even try to show them how prepaird you are for this dog by having a vet appt lined up for the dog and having the heartworm meds already if you know what dog your looking at getting.

Also think about this, who's dog is this going to be in the end? Room mates some and go, and if you put all 3 on the app, who is the one in the end will be paying for its vet care, and takeing the dog with them when they move on. Have it in writing so none of the 2 people can say otherwise.

Dogstar

If the rescue groups are, you feel, too strict, go to your local municipal shelter ("Animal Control"). Typically, their requirements are looser. You might also check the local Craigslist postings for dogs in need- you'll spend more to do it, though, as you'll have to pay an adoption fee AND vet the dog yourself. Just please, please, please don't support a pet store.

Pet store puppies DO sell - eventually, someone takes pity on them. In a few cases, the pet store will surrender them to a shelter (Where they have a decent chance of adoption or getting pulled by a rescue group). But they DO get homes.

Their parents, on the other hand, get to live out the rest of their lives on wire, in a cage. Please do NOT give money to anyone that perpetuates this- pet stores thta sell cats and dogs or endorce buying from commercial breeders.

oatmeal_jackson

Thanks for all the input. I'm definitely going to avoid buying from a puppy store.

Honestly though, we did go into one of those places today that we live down the road from just to take a look. They had plenty of puppies for sale, but they also have a small rescue/adoption operation going. There was a VERY cute little Basset Hound that was given up by her owner recently, but I'm a bit hesitant because supposedly they are notoriously difficult to house break. This one in particular is apparently not yet trained, and since I haven't owned a dog before i'm nervous about being able to do it.

I'm going to keep looking. Thanks for all the help.

KingJames88

I think it may have already been said above, but try a rescue shelter, the type that takes dogs from a kill shelter to save their lives, or a specific organization such as boxer rescue. A rescue shelter gave me a puppy after doing a house check and giving a couple of references, and I never had a vet before.

Criosphynx

If your worried about training may a suggest an adult dog and not a puppy. Waaaay easier.

Also, you will have to do some training no matter what dog you pick. Even if a dog is trained already, it wasn't by you and you have to refresh their memories a bit.

Don't buy into that "difficult to housebreak" stuff you read based on breeds. Every dog is different, breed traits only go so far... that said, a basset can get HUGE and i think you mentioned wanting a small dog.

oatmeal_jackson

Thanks for the advice.
I personally would actually prefer getting a young adult small dog, but my brother won't drop the "puppy" idea. It doesn't make sense at this point because we won't be home enough to train a very young puppy in all the ways we will need to. Especially considering the fact that we have never trained before.
Anyway, nothing has been decided yet, and i'm going to keep an eye out for a fairly young, small, housebroken dog in need of a home.

CinnamintStick

My best friend is a animal control officer. One day we where in a pet store where a rescue group was sceening people for there dogs. It was the same dogs that where at her work. The rescue groups get first choice of the lost animals before they are open for adoption to the public. They take the cream of the crop and not normaly the problem dogs. They are the dogs that most people want. So what are they resuced from??? We both listened to some of there question and even seen familys cry when they where rejected. How sad for some of the kids. On the way out my friend gave direction to one family and told them anyone can adopt a animal from them. She later told me that she has let homeless people adopt dogs. The only thing most of those dogs need is someone to love them. She knows one homeless lady that takes better care of her dog than most people.

fyzbo

I would strongly suggest an adult dog. You will get to see what you are getting instead of having to wait for the dog to grow up and be surprised. It will also be easier as a first time owner.

Also I'm wondering where you live. By me there is an SPCA with rules, but not strict ones, and an animal shelter who will basically adopt to anyone who can cover the adoption fee. Both have a huge range of dog breeds/sizes/ages. The spca will also let you request a certain type of dog and will call when they get one in.

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