What do you expect from your dog?

[cindr]

When I go out to purchase a dog, I know I have spacific expectations from the dog. Let it be love, breeding, training. So if we were all in a room coffee at hand and chatting about this subject What, where and who would you go see and what would you expect to see when picking out your puppy or doggie?

 

[chickenlittle]

What?

German shepherd for work!

Where

I try to deal with reputable breeder's only

Who?

There are two people I would really be interested in doing business with in Ontario.
#1} Deb Meloche....a lady in Amhurstberg, Ontario. Awesome dogs and awesome abilities.
#2} Marc Auger.....his female came from Deb; I love the male's intensity and high drives. Just waiting to see what type of quality comes out as they are just starting out. They have got my attention though.

What do I expect?

Strong drives
Nerves of Steel
Healthy
Good working quality

 

[Brattina88]

For me, it really depends. Honestly, Maddie was my first dog that I picked a breed, did research, found a breeder, and picked a puppy. Dogs seem to wander in and pick me, instead of the other way around. At this time in my life I have pretty much decided that I don't need another puppy, not for a long time will I change my mind...
But here it goes:

What?

Anything, it matters, and it doesn't matter at the same time. The breed or mix is unimportant, unless of course I've chosen a breed to go with. A GSD or mix perhaps

A rescue

Where

(kill) Dog Pounds, by word of mouth of others - whether it be pet store talk, internet, friend of a friends brother's uncles momma . . .
I support rescues, but often feel that they have it pretty well handled and they can find a dog a home, so I can save another

Who?

Sadly, most of the dogs I get are not from very good owners. But that doesn't matter much to me... as long as I can get them out of there!

What do I expect?

Loyalty
Love
Respect - which says a number of things, really
Needs to be fairly active
and hopefully healthy, but I work with them if they are not
They have to be good with dogs. Even some of the most dog aggressive dogs I've fostered seem to get along with my bunch when I'm supervising, and then they're separated when I'm not home. It's really hard for me to help them if they don't get a long with mine. I can't keep them if they don't get along with most dogs. Because I foster, dog sit, and attend dog activities outside the home frequently...

 

[elegy]

depends on what i'm looking for. i chose luce mostly on gut feeling. i was looking for a pit bull, because i wanted a dog with pit bull qualities- athletic, friendly, goofy, enthusiastic. she was the one in the shelter who just called to me for whatever reason, and now she's here.

when i got mushroom i was looking for a male dog who would be compatible with miss thing. that was the most important thing. in retrospect, i wish i had looked for a dog who was not so dorky and who was more drivey, but i love shroomdog and wouldn't trade him for the world. he is fantastic with luce.

my next dog, i haven't exactly decided on (and it will be years away, most likely), but i want a dog who is going to be a good agility prospect. i want a dog who is likely to NOT be dog-aggressive, a dog who is drivey and smart, and a dog who is extremely interested in playing my games.

i'm not sure where i'll go in the future to get a dog. maybe a breeder, but my requirements are very strict and it'll be a hard search and probably a long wait for a pup. i don't know. mostly my heart lies in shelter dogs and rescues.

 

[~Dixie's_Mom~]

This is what I was looking for when I bought Dixie....

What?

A Yorkshire Terrier

Where

Close-by so I could see the living conditions, and meet the parents, and breeder

Who?

From a Responsible breeder (which...didn't turn out quite like we planned)

What do I expect?

I wanted a dog who had Show Potential. I was looking for a dog to show and breed. But I also wanted a loving personality, and I got both! I wouldn't trade Dixie for anything. Even if she doesn't show well, and I can't breed her, I could never give her up. I'd just spay her and keep her with me always.

 

[Char_06]

MILO
What
Jack Russell

Where
Anywhere within 10/20 miles


Who?
Anyone aslong as parents could be veiwed and all looked healthy

What do I expect?
A cheerfull family pet with a streak or cheekyness & to have fun with in agility and obedience

What I Got
Exactly what we wanted =)

SHADY
What
A GSD OR rottweiler

Where
Anywhere within 10/20 miles


Who?
Anyone aslong as parents could be veiwed and all looked healthy

What do I expect?
We live on a not very nice estate so a protection dog and a loyal companion to do agility and obediance with etc

What I Got
A crossbreed from the back of a garage (completely unplanned) that turned into a healthy loyal and protective dog...the twist? she is TOO protective her parents being guard dogs she is dog aggressive etc. even though socialised from early age. But i love her to bits and she would never hurt her family.

NANUK
What
A GSD

Where
Anywhere within 10/20 miles


Who?
Anyone aslong as parents could be veiwed and all looked healthy

What do I expect?
A calm loyal dog for me only to do long walks with, agility, obediance, off lead walking etc etc and just to get along with everyday things.

What I Got
A whinging puppy lol no he is a great big boy with amazing long coat, should grow up to be a huge buddle of fluff...slowely getting on with shady but taking it slowely.

 

[Babyblue5290]

what
The breed doesn't matter to me....only the dog and it's personality.

where
As long as I can meet them and get them where I live anywhere. Perferably in this state though lol

who
Either a rescue or shelter.

what do I expect
At this point, Lucas has to like it and it must like Lucas, or at least tolerate each other.
I expect it to be loving
Either have energy or not, doesn't matter.
Perferably healthy.
Respect definetly.
Non aggressive

 

[Whisper]

I agree with a lot of what BB said.

When I get my next dog I will be looking for a loving companion. I don't care about the breed. I will go to a rescue/shelter/pound(I want to save a dog from being euthanized if I can). I would prefer the dog to be healthy, doesn't matter what gender, for the sake of the animals I have now he/she would have to be good with cats, dogs, and at least non-aggressive with animals, even if he or she didn't particularly care for them. I don't mind whether he or she is aloof with strangers, just not aggressive.

 

[Toller_08]

When my family decided to take Tango, all I was really expecting was a very high energy, high maintenance dog...and I got just that.

This is what I'm hoping for out of my next dog....

What?:
A female Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever

Where
In my province preferably, but if I hadn't been able to find a good breeder in Alberta, I'd travel to another province.

Who?
I am getting her from a responsible, reputable breeder about an hour or so away from me so that I can meet the dogs and get to know the breeder.

What do I expect?
First and foremost, I want a dog with a nice temperament. I want a dog who is everything Tango isn't (I love her more than anything, but she has always had a few issues). I want a dog that I can take out in public who won't try to attack other dogs, a dog that isn't afraid of the world, a dog that is very content and has a lot of confidence. Next, I want a dog who will hopefully excel at agility and has a lot of hunting instinct. Appearance is also very important to me. If I'm going to get a Toller, I want a dog that looks like a Toller. Not like a Cocker, a Golden, or a Border Collie as a lot seem to look like lately...I want something that is easily recognized as a Toller. That is because I have interest in showing her in conformation. I also want her to be the best socialized dog I've ever had so far. One that I can take anywhere with no difficulties, and one that I can compete in obedience or RallyO with who pays attention to me and not everything else around her. This is what I expect, and what I hope for and describes the perfect dog for me. However, if I don't get this I'll love her just the same.

 

[gaddylovesdogs]

I go for dogs in need mostly...not breeder dogs...and all I'd be looking for is a medium-sized, well-behaved, nice, fairly energetic dog.

 

[Jynx]

I have rescue dogs and I have breeder dogs. A couple have just fallen into my lap of which I am grateful for.

My rescue GSD, (who is more malinois like than gsd) ws a puppy whom everyone(trainers) said would never get anywhere, she was the dog from down under LOL,,but I saw a spark there that I knew would someday shine. She ended up being the 4th nationally ranked gsd in agility in 99, 00 and 5th nationally ranked in jumpers in 01..I started obed with her, told her if she graced me with a CD I would let her do agility, Obed was to "slow" for her,,she never scored under 195 in 3 straight trials, took 2 HIT's, and that was it for obed ring..She's spoiled me for any other dog,,now retired at 11.

I'm going to answer differently'
"What do I expect from my dog?" I look for brains, I look for drive, and eagerness to learn. I like "easy trainers" which I find in the herding breeds.
I also look to the breeder, since they've been with the puppies for weeks vs me for alot of input. Of course good health is unspoken , and most of all I want a sound temperament.

I think if you can find the above, you can end up having a relationship/bond that will never be equaled. I've been so lucky to have found that with 99% of the dogs I've lived with. It doesn't hurt to have "pretty" dogs to, but brains are more important to me than beauty.
Diane

 

[Renee750il]

A large dog - In an adoption it's almost invariably an adult dog, and it takes just that one "look" for me to know if it's My Dog or if it belongs to someone else.

In the Fila pups we've bought, it's been the pup that was more interested in me than in what her littermates were doing and was fearless and curious enough to walk up to me and look up at me.

 

[BostonBanker]

WHAT/WHERE/WHO: Breed doesn't matter - mix or purebred. I would only look for another dog through the rescue I got Meg from. It's a friend of mine who pulls dogs from overcrowded or high-kill shelters and places them. All the dogs she brings in are evaluated in her home, and she has an amazing success rate as far as placing the right dog with the right people.

Definitely a male - I don't think Meg would handle another female in the house. She is much better with smaller dogs or puppies than large adults (a lot of her issues with dogs are related to her insecurities). Since I don't want a puppy , I'd be looking for a dog smaller than her. It would still need to be sturdy enough to hang out most of the day outside at the barn with me, so nothing too tiny.

What I'd expect: A dog who suited my life. That sticks around well off-leash and can handle being in a barn where dogs and people come and go throughout the day. A dog who had enough focus and desire to train in agility and possible compete.

Honestly, though, I can't imagine trying to squeeze another dog into my life. I already feel guilty if the dog and the horse get uneven amounts of attention!

 

[Whisper]

. . .it takes just that one "look" for me to know if it's My Dog or if it belongs to someone else.

Definitely! It's hard to explain it to people but it's a feeling that's just "there."

 

[cindr]

All of you are soo . I really enjoy coming out here. I have been on other forums and they seem to be pruds. I would love to sit in a room with my freinds talking dog and having that coffee. All of you are very awesome:hail: :hail: If I were a dog I would love any of you to own me:lol-sign:

 

[Babyblue5290]

All of you are soo . I really enjoy coming out here. I have been on other forums and they seem to be pruds. I would love to sit in a room with my freinds talking dog and having that coffee. All of you are very awesome If I were a dog I would love any of you to own me

You sure about that? I'm a meanie who just loves to give my pups hugs! And make them do "embarasing" tricks :yikes: Scary!! And sometimes I even......*looks around.......*whispers* make them wear costumes!!!! lol

 

[yoko]

i'll be completely honest i LOVE mutts. they're my favorite dog you never know what you're getting when you get a puppy from the shelter and that's what i love about them. i got my dog from this little shelter *it is a kill shelter* and since it's kinda hard to find and theres a HS nearby no one usually goes there to get a dog so they're usually put down

i expected a dog that would get along with my friends and strangers and who i could take with me when i go out. i really wanted a dog with some cute markings and i really wanted a boy. i wanted it to be a young puppy so i could raise it. and i wanted it to be max 25 lbs.

i ended up with a girl who is one solid color except she does have a 'highlighted look' who loves to play, always has to touch me and sleep with me and she was 4 months when i got her and she ended up being about 50-55 lbs. she goes camping with me, she loves swimming and she has an awesome recall. she doesn't know the most tricks but she does know a lot of obeidence and i can take her wherever she is allowed without worrying. she does get rowdy with new people and dogs, but never aggressive and i love my little cuddler

how could you turn down that face?

 

[Whisper]

I couldn't!

 

[bubbatd]

I must say , it was different for me after I lost Chip ,I had had home bred Goldens for over 45 years ..... but I knew I was going to rescue and Ollie found me !! Agree.... it's " that look " !

 

[jess2416]

it takes just that one "look" for me to know if it's My Dog or if it belongs to someone else.

I know exactly what you mean and I feel the same way