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What should my first dog be?

8K views 39 replies 27 participants last post by  taquitos 
#1 ·
Hello!

Please, read the written text underneath so you can get an idea of my situation and to help me for choosing a dog if you like.
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I don't know anything about dogs. My mother doesn't like animals especially dogs and we've never had one. I would even panic if a dog like (pitbull, German Shepherd or some other dog with the potential to kill me(...?!) is unchained near me.

Now I live on my own for a third year and recently I started trying to overcome the uncomfortable feeling when around dogs and to actually get to know them. I saw an English Bulldog outside about a week ago and I really LOVED it. It's a medium size dog looks incredibly cool and manly yet at the same it's funny and gentle. I want a dog that is not very energetic and not aggressive. I decided that I should get an English Bulldog baby and if I get it as a baby I'll take of him and I'll feel comfortable with it and hopefully the bulldog will like me as well. I read about English Bulldogs a lot on the Internet and I found out that the healthy ones are way too expensive( 1,500$+ ? ) which unfortunately I can't afford. I saw people selling bulldog babies for about 400$ but it seems that I shouldn't buy it that cheap for health and other reasons. I also read that they are very hard to take care of and prone to diseases and allergies. And the last thing I'd want is to get a dog that I can't take good care of so I believe I should give up on the English Bulldog. Or not? Please, keep reading.

I live in a very small apartment, I go to the University and for some time at the day the apartment would be empty. And at night I might go outside and it'll be empty again. That does not happen that often though but still the dog I have should be able to be on its own for a while. At summer I'm usually going back to my parents and there will be many people and a backyard as well. I live in a place where it's really cold in the winter (coldest being -20c/-4 fahrenheit - the coldest month) and very hot in the summer (may reach +40c/104f the hottest month) so that should be kept in mind. I would love to go for walks with the dog and play with it while at home. I'd also like to go with it outside with friends once the Winter ends.

So basically what I want is a small to medium sized dog that is not aggressive and that is looking cool. The English Bulldog fits perfectly but as explained above is too expensive and might need more care than I'm prepared for and as many say - it's not a good choice for a first pet. I checked the french bulldogs, pugs, etc but they are too girly and I don't seem myself walking a dog like that in the park :D

So, please. Give me some advice on what dog should I get.

Cheers!
 
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#36 ·
You are right, the French Bulldog is not that girly. I thought so because most of the times I would see a French Bulldog puppy. And as far as I'm informed it fits me as a temperament, maintenance and size. I'll read in details on how to take care of it whilst looking around for proper breeders and what to look for when buying a dog as a matter of vaccines, passport, dog food, etc.

Thank you very much for your posts - I appreciate it! And I wish you a very happy New Year!
 
#39 ·
I agree with everyone above., I just had to laugh at the "big guy" and "girlie" dog thing. I work in a dog daycare, we are located right near huge upgrader, meaning a LOT of our clients are very large burly men..and half those large burly men have Yorkies, who they love and dote on. I assure you, NOBODY goes "oh.. that looks awkward" when they see them together, they just go "awww! what a cute little doggy!"
 
#40 ·
Hahaha yeah at the store I worked at one of the most "manly" looking guys (this big, muscular Italian dude) owned a 4 lbs maltese. He used to spoil the dog SO much lol.

My boyfriend walks and carries my 7 lbs dog without me being there. He's a smaller, thinner guy so he is often considered more "feminine", but he does not care lol. He loves Meeko and will even carry the dog carrier that looks like a purse with Meeko in it... :p OP, honestly, women don't care if you have a big manly dog or a tiny toy dog lol. All dogs are chick magnets imo ;) haha. Like you, my boyfriend was not a fan of small girly looking dogs at first. He thought they were yappy, annoying and prissy... but then he met my dog and that all changed :p
 
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