decision making--looking for help

[bogolove]

Originally Posted by Rip's Girl

Actually the westie is one terrier that I find to be mellower.... Just had to add that, in case you had your heart set on a terrier. They are still terriers, but not as dominant and difficult, IME.

Sorry, I don't want you to think I was putting down the westie. I loved mine very much and he was a great and sweet, loving dog. But he did give me a trying time. He would always escape from the house and I would have to take a piece of cheese out in the neighborhood and try to catch him. He was so fast, I always joked he was like a rabbit. But he ended up escaping one time and he ran up to the highway. I will leave that part alone, but I did enjoy him very much. They are really cute dogs too with those furry little white faces.

[JRT_Rattie_Mom]

Originally Posted by noob

In the course of my searching I keep seeing a few breeds over and over--Border Terrier, Boston Terrier, Miniature Pinscher, Beagle, and Labrador Retriever. Everything I read about each of those breeds has some negative to it but I know that some little blurb on the internet isn't going to tell me all I need to know.

I would greatly appreciate it if some of you more knowledgeable people could help me out with some suggestions. Breed quizzes can only take me so far, you know? Thanks!!!

We have both a Jack Russell Terrier, and a Rat Terrier. Our JRT is fine with all kids as far as SHE is concerned! The problem is she doesn't understand that young childen fall over when she jumps up trying to play with them! Our Rat Terrier we adopted from a rescue last July at 14 weeks. She is an absolutely wonderful puppy! I had never been around Rat Terriers before, but have done some research on them after adopting Holly. They come in a standard size (up to about 35 lbs.) as well as the popular smaller size that we adopted. Holly will probably only be 10 lbs. full grown. Rat Terriers are smart as whips... good with children... and very sweet as well as entertaining... from what I've seen in ours, and heard about other RT's. You mentioned the Border Terrier as an option, and I had never seen one until recently. There is a Border Terrier that has been at the dog park we go the past few months, and I did notice he is very calm and quiet for a "terrier" but don't know if this is typical of all Broder Terriers.

Wishing you the best of luck in finding your new family member!

[JRT_Rattie_Mom]

Originally Posted by noob

tolerate other pets including two outdoor cats and two indoor guinea pigs. Those two factors are deal breakers. Best case scenario: I would also like a dog that barks when strangers approach, yet trainable to be quiet when told to, not exceptionally large, doesn't require heavy grooming, and not a huge "dog smell".

OOPS!
I was also going to mention that Rat Terriers normally do well with cats (I know you didn't mention JRT's as an option, but they are NOT recommended for families w/cats or other small critters like guinea pigs.) We have a 5 foot iguana that we had before getting both the JRT & RT, and both of them just ignore her. I think in many cases any pets you may have when you bring the new addition home (though you would need to monitor carefully) would probably learn to accept those pets as part of the family... but I would suggest choosing a breed that isn't prone to harming cats and/or other small critters.. just to be on the safe side Hmmm... not REALLY recommending Rat Terriers here! but they do have very short hair... almost no grooming required at all... just occasional bath, and toe nail trims... and no dog smell here!

[Millie]

I would also suggest going to a shelter. Most of the time you do have some backgroung info on the dog. Such as good with kids and other pets ect. But a lot of dogs at the shelter do have some problems. Thats why most are there. Some run away,bark a lot, dig, bite etc. I am sure there will be some training needed. Also a lot of dogs end up barking a lot when left outside most of the day. They get bored and need human interaction.Labs need exercise so a small yard might not be big enough. You might consider a smaller dog than a lab, so it could live in the house with you and not be taking up all your space. Good luck finding a dog. Let us know who your search turns out.

[Renee750il]

Most dogs (and cats, for that matter) are in shelters because they suffered the misfortune of ending up with owners who did not care and were irresponsible and callous. We prosecute people who ditch their children in that way, yet make excuses for people who ditch their pets, allowing them to get by with laying the blame on the animal instead of their own inadequacies.

[RD]

Exactly. I've volunteered at shelters for years and I always wonder when someone turns in a dog: "Are they REALLY allergic to it?" or "Are they REALLY moving and can't take the dog?"
They make up excuses to ditch the dog. I'd say about 10% TOPS of the people who turn dogs and cats in are actually being honest about it. (Which is usually: "He's too much dog for me, I can't handle it anymore" or "I think he would be better off in a different home", etc. I still don't agree with their taking the dog to the pound and giving it a potential death sentence, but at least they were being honest.

[Millie]

Yes, I do agree they end up there because of owners who don't care. They also end up with problem such as running away,barking and digging because they live in a home with people who don't care. These problems arise because of lack of love,attention,no training and when those problems start affecting the owners they get rid of the animal. I think people have to remember you can't walk into a shelter and think you will walk out with a perfect dog. My neighbors are on there 3rd dog from a shelter. So far all 3 have been runners. But because these people are to stupid to realize they need to take the time to train the dog,they get frustrated and return the dog. Then they come home with another dog. It is frustrating form me because all of they dogs have been so loving they just need direction from someone who will take responsibilty for them. It is so sad.

[Renee750il]

Shame on the shelter if they're getting the dogs from the same shelter! After a couple of tries, someone needs to figure out that these aren't fit dog owners and stop allowing them to adopt.

Just a thought - what are the odds that all three dogs were actually runners before these people brought them home? Maybe they are doing something to make these dogs run?

[Millie]

These dogs were runners before. The second one they had they got at a shelter 45 miles from there house. They invited us over to see the new dog. I couldn't believe my eyes. It was the dog that lived 4 blocks from my house. He was at my house 2 nights before. I called the owners to pick him up. They must have turned around and dropped him off at the shelter. The previous owners didn't disclose that he was a runner or the shelter didn't disclose it to my neighbors. So he ended running away back to his old house 4 blocks away. I wish I could have seen there faces when he showed up. He would tear screens of windows to get out. My nieghbors got rid of him. They are nice people, they would never hurt a dog. They just don't have a clue.

[leaughxp]

Originally Posted by bogolove

Sorry, I don't want you to think I was putting down the westie. I loved mine very much and he was a great and sweet, loving dog. But he did give me a trying time. He would always escape from the house and I would have to take a piece of cheese out in the neighborhood and try to catch him. He was so fast, I always joked he was like a rabbit.

Yeah they can run fast. Bailey used to chase squirrels, rabbits, and his personal favorite-chipmunks. He never did catch any though. Bailey used to run out the door every chance he got. It's not fun to chase him down at 1am on a Saturday night only to find him pretending he belongs to someone else! When we saw him he was just walking nicely with these two people outside, they said he went in their garage and just followed them. He'd never walked so nice for me. Besides having to chase him down every so often, he was a GREAT dog, never niped at anyone and loved all the neighborhood kids.

If you get a dog from a shelter, make sure you spend some time alone with him before adopting him. I wish I had done that before I got my puppy. I had played with him in a room but his sister was with him and when I went back a second time to get him I just held him (he's a big sweet baby when you stand and hold him but otherwise he's very obnoxious). I wish I would have seen him in the room alone first, at least then maybe I would have been a little more aware of what I was getting into. Good luck in your decision.