[BREEDS] Thanks for helping me buy my first dog! https://ift.tt/eA8V8J **Introduction** Will this be your first dog? If not, what experience do you have owning/training dogs? * This will be my (27F) first dog. I have wanted one for a long time but a combination of renting, work and timing haven’t worked out. 2) Do you have a preference for rescuing a dog vs. going through a [reputable breeder]( http://ownresponsibly.blogspot.com/2011/07/identifying-reputable-breeder.html)? * I would prefer to buy a dog from a breeder where I can have their genetic background and an ongoing relationship (however small) to their family. 3) Describe your ideal dog. * Smart, playful, good around strangers and other dogs, low noise and able to be trained. I’d like to be able to run with the dog (when safe) but also not be worried when its at home about it being destructive. Low shedding would also be good- I can get hayfever. I'll admit I love beautiful, strong looking dogs like Collies. 4) What breeds or types of dogs are you interested in and why? * Border Collies were my go to, prior to reading about them on this sub! They are beautiful, smart and social, but my partner and I will be working long term. Bordoodle is then a good question- lower maintainance and non-shedding coat? Also considering a goldendoodle (similar logic). Would love some more diverse suggestions though! 5) What sorts of things would you like to train your dog to do? * Obedience commands, games (fetch etc), household commands- so smart but nothing too fancy! 6) Do you want to compete with your dog in a sport (e.g. agility, obedience, rally) or use your dog for a form of work (e.g. hunting, herding, livestock guarding)? If so, how much experience do you have with this work/sport? * NA- and no experience. ​ **Care Commitments** 7) How long do you want to devote to training, playing with, or otherwise interacting with your dog each day? * I will be studying med for the first 4 years of its life so should be around reasonably frequently at home. Could spend 3 hours per day with the dog out and about- morning walk for an hour and then things like sports in the evenings. 8) How long can you exercise your dog each day, on average? What sorts of exercise are you planning to give your dog regularly and does that include using a dog park? * We live right next to a huge dog park so easily an hour every morning, and then out in the evenings (walks to breweries, sport etc). We’re happy for exercise to be scaled up to satisfy the right dog, but lead pretty active lives already. 9) How much regular brushing are you willing to do? Are you open to trimming hair, cleaning ears, or doing other grooming at home? If not, would you be willing to pay a professional to do it regularly? * Willing to do brushing but preferably low maintenance coat- don’t want shedding all over the furniture. Happy to clean ears etc but don’t want goopy eyes (e.g. some cavaliers etc). ​ **Personal Preferences** 10) What size dog are you looking for? * Medium, we dont like tiny dogs. 11) How much shedding, barking, and slobber can you handle? * Low tolerance for all 3 12) How important is being able to let your dog off-leash in an unfenced area? * Very important- we want to be able to take them on off-leash walks. ​ **Dog Personality and Behavior** 13) Do you want a snuggly dog or one that prefers some personal space? * Snuggly but not clingy/ anxious 14) Would you prefer a dog that wants to do its own thing or one that’s more eager-to-please? * Eager to please 15) How would you prefer your dog to respond to someone knocking on the door or entering your yard? How would you prefer your dog to greet strangers or visitors? * I’m fine with enthusiasm but don’t want them pulling or scarring people. I recognise training will be an important component of that. 16) Are you willing to manage a dog that is aggressive to other dogs? * I’m willing to pursue extra training if that behaviour arises, but I do not want a dog breed that has any consistent aggressive tendencies. 17) Are there any other behaviors you can’t deal with or want to avoid? * Barking during the day if I’m not there- destructiveness in the house. ​ **Lifestyle** 18) How often and how long will the dog be left alone? * For the first 4 years the maximum would ever be 5 hours. Most days much less though. After 4 years partner and I will both be working, but differing hours so shouldn’t be too bad. Our parents live close and are retired and willing to be involved during busy periods, so at worst can get them (or a paid employee) to walk the dog during the day. 19) What are the dog-related preferences of other people in the house and what will be their involvement in caring for the dog? * None, only partner and I. 20) Do you have other pets or are you planning on having other pets? What breed or type of animal are they? * Planning on getting a kitten after seeing how the pup settles in. Can delay that as needed. 21) Will the dog be interacting with children regularly? * Not young children, but coming from a large family I want the dog to be fine with kids. We will probably have kids after a few years also. 22) Do you rent or plan to rent in the future? If applicable, what breed or weight restrictions are on your current lease? * NA- own. 23) What city or country do you live in and are you aware of any laws banning certain breeds? * NSW Australia- wouldn’t want any banned breeds (would be ones thought of as aggressive). 24) What is the average temperature of a typical summer and winter day where you live? * Summer – 30, Winter- 18 celcius ​ **Additional Information and Questions** 25) Please provide any additional information you feel may be relevant. Partner and I are both disciplined adults- he is nearly finished his medical degree and I've worked professionally for a number of years before starting mine. While I know this is our first dog, we're very willing to put in the work, time and money to getting the right breed raised well. Thank you for your advice! dogs beentheredangnabbit

**Introduction** Will this be your first dog? If not, what experience do you have owning/training dogs? 

* This will be my (27F) first dog. I have wanted one for a long time but a combination of renting, work and timing haven’t worked out.

2) Do you have a preference for rescuing a dog vs. going through a [reputable breeder]( http://ownresponsibly.blogspot.com/2011/07/identifying-reputable-breeder.html)? 

* I would prefer to buy a dog from a breeder where I can have their genetic background and an ongoing relationship (however small) to their family.

3) Describe your ideal dog. 

* Smart, playful, good around strangers and other dogs, low noise and able to be trained. I’d like to be able to run with the dog (when safe) but also not be worried when its at home about it being destructive. Low shedding would also be good- I can get hayfever. I'll admit I love beautiful, strong looking dogs like Collies.

4) What breeds or types of dogs are you interested in and why? 

* Border Collies were my go to, prior to reading about them on this sub! They are beautiful, smart and social, but my partner and I will be working long term. Bordoodle is then a good question- lower maintainance and non-shedding coat? Also considering a goldendoodle (similar logic). Would love some more diverse suggestions though!

5) What sorts of things would you like to train your dog to do? 

* Obedience commands, games (fetch etc), household commands- so smart but nothing too fancy!

6) Do you want to compete with your dog in a sport (e.g. agility, obedience, rally) or use your dog for a form of work (e.g. hunting, herding, livestock guarding)? If so, how much experience do you have with this work/sport? 

* NA- and no experience.

​

**Care Commitments**

7) How long do you want to devote to training, playing with, or otherwise interacting with your dog each day? 

* I will be studying med for the first 4 years of its life so should be around reasonably frequently at home. Could spend 3 hours per day with the dog out and about- morning walk for an hour and then things like sports in the evenings.

8) How long can you exercise your dog each day, on average? What sorts of exercise are you planning to give your dog regularly and does that include using a dog park? 

* We live right next to a huge dog park so easily an hour every morning, and then out in the evenings (walks to breweries, sport etc). We’re happy for exercise to be scaled up to satisfy the right dog, but lead pretty active lives already.

9) How much regular brushing are you willing to do? Are you open to trimming hair, cleaning ears, or doing other grooming at home? If not, would you be willing to pay a professional to do it regularly? 

* Willing to do brushing but preferably low maintenance coat- don’t want shedding all over the furniture. Happy to clean ears etc but don’t want goopy eyes (e.g. some cavaliers etc).

​

**Personal Preferences**

10) What size dog are you looking for? 

* Medium, we dont like tiny dogs.

11) How much shedding, barking, and slobber can you handle? 

* Low tolerance for all 3

12) How important is being able to let your dog off-leash in an unfenced area? 

* Very important- we want to be able to take them on off-leash walks.

​

**Dog Personality and Behavior**

13) Do you want a snuggly dog or one that prefers some personal space? 

* Snuggly but not clingy/ anxious

14) Would you prefer a dog that wants to do its own thing or one that’s more eager-to-please? 

* Eager to please

15) How would you prefer your dog to respond to someone knocking on the door or entering your yard? How would you prefer your dog to greet strangers or visitors? 

* I’m fine with enthusiasm but don’t want them pulling or scarring people. I recognise training will be an important component of that.

16) Are you willing to manage a dog that is aggressive to other dogs? 

* I’m willing to pursue extra training if that behaviour arises, but I do not want a dog breed that has any consistent aggressive tendencies.

17) Are there any other behaviors you can’t deal with or want to avoid? 

* Barking during the day if I’m not there- destructiveness in the house.

​

**Lifestyle**

18) How often and how long will the dog be left alone? 

* For the first 4 years the maximum would ever be 5 hours. Most days much less though. After 4 years partner and I will both be working, but differing hours so shouldn’t be too bad. Our parents live close and are retired and willing to be involved during busy periods, so at worst can get them (or a paid employee) to walk the dog during the day.

19) What are the dog-related preferences of other people in the house and what will be their involvement in caring for the dog? 

* None, only partner and I.

20) Do you have other pets or are you planning on having other pets? What breed or type of animal are they? 

* Planning on getting a kitten after seeing how the pup settles in. Can delay that as needed.

21) Will the dog be interacting with children regularly? 

* Not young children, but coming from a large family I want the dog to be fine with kids. We will probably have kids after a few years also.

22) Do you rent or plan to rent in the future? If applicable, what breed or weight restrictions are on your current lease? 

* NA- own.

23) What city or country do you live in and are you aware of any laws banning certain breeds? 

* NSW Australia- wouldn’t want any banned breeds (would be ones thought of as aggressive).

24) What is the average temperature of a typical summer and winter day where you live? 

* Summer – 30, Winter- 18 celcius

​

**Additional Information and Questions**

25) Please provide any additional information you feel may be relevant. 

Partner and I are both disciplined adults- he is nearly finished his medical degree and I've worked professionally for a number of years before starting mine. While I know this is our first dog, we're very willing to put in the work, time and money to getting the right breed raised well. Thank you for your advice!

Submitted August 11, 2019 at 01:03AM by beentheredangnabbit https://ift.tt/2YCzQdK