What kind of dog should I get?

[BlueHair]

I love dogs, but could never have one in the house. I hate going into homes with dogs because of the shedding. Somehow the hair always makes it into your food and all over your clothes. I am of the opinion that animals are meant to be outside. I do agree with Mike that dogs need alot of attention and a lifetime commitment. Which is why I won't get one. It wouldn't be fair to the dog to have to sit around all week until I get time on the weekends to play with it.

[SoCalCoug]

Consider an Australian Shepherd. They're very nice looking dogs, very intelligent, and absolutely great with kids. In fact, they're quite protective of them. Ours seemed to be able to tell the difference between adults, kids, and babies, and treated them accordingly. They also don't tend to bark too much.

We had a couple, and they would play tag with my little brothers, and it didn't take too much work to teach them to catch frisbees.

[FarrahWaters]

If you get a labradoodle, make sure you go to a reputable breeder. After they became popular, people started breeding them randomly and selling them for a couple thousand dollars.

I'm more of a big dog lover, but I might also consider a schnauzer. There's one in our neighborhood that is very friendly. They don't shed, and if they're good with kids if raised around them.

But, I do think dogs are social creatures and want to be around people. Why doesn't your wife want it in the house? Cleanliness issue?

[Archaea]

I've always loved large dogs until I had smaller dogs. They are all compromises, but not having huge dung heaps is not all that bad.

I despise the yipping of small dogs, but every morning it's nice to pick up only small heaps.

And yes, I've had

Newfoundlands, Great Pyranees, Mastiffs, Rottweilers, Dobys (my personal favorite), Weimaraners, Sheps, Aeredales, Puggles (my wife's), Shelties, and some others that I've forgotten, working dogs.

I've loved them all. We currently have three dogs and more cats than I care to count. We also have reptiles, and birds and probably other things that I haven't identified.

Dogs are great to sleep with though. Cats kinda give the finger until feeding time.

[YOhio]

Originally Posted by Detroitdad

No dog is the best dog.

Amen.

[MikeWaters]

Let me guide you through what it will be like to keep a dog in your backyard.

1. He will jump on you and otherwise freak out when you and your kids go in the backyard. Why? Because he is so excited. Your young children will quickly learn it isn't fun to be jumped on. You will get mad at the dog. He won't understand, and it will be a mess.

2. Your dog is barking. You don't know why. It is irritating. You poke your head out the back door. He freaks out and barks more. your neighbors complain.

3. Your dog craps everywhere in the backyard. The only time you find yourself with the dog is to feed him, give him water, and clean the crap. Your dog freaks out. It sucks.

4. You go on vacation. You can't take the dog with you, because you don't think it can behave. You have to pay a kennel to keep him. It's expensive. You find yourself not making trips, because of the dog.

5. You finally get tired of it all. The kids don't care about the dog. You don't care about the dog. You try to give it away. No one wants your unmannered backyard unadjusted dog. You give it to the animal shelter, hoping it will be adopted, knowing it will probably be killed.

The end.

Better to not have a dog than go through this.

[BarbaraGordon]

Originally Posted by MikeWaters

Let me guide you through what it will be like to keep a dog in your backyard.
...

The end.

Better to not have a dog than go through this.

You forgot the part where the dog escapes the fence and runs away and the three-year-old cries afraid the dog will get hit by a truck and you have to pile in the car at eleven at night and drive up and down all the streets trying to find the dog without disturbing the neighbors.

[Archaea]

Originally Posted by BarbaraGordon

You forgot the part where the dog escapes the fence and runs away and the three-year-old cries afraid the dog will get hit by a truck and you have to pile in the car at eleven at night and drive up and down all the streets trying to find the dog without disturbing the neighbors.

Or making lost dog posters rewarding people massive amounts of money which just incurred cataracts surgery, kidney surgery and hip replacement surgery.

[BlueHair]

Originally Posted by MikeWaters

Let me guide you through what it will be like to keep a dog in your backyard.

1. He will jump on you and otherwise freak out when you and your kids go in the backyard. Why? Because he is so excited. Your young children will quickly learn it isn't fun to be jumped on. You will get mad at the dog. He won't understand, and it will be a mess.

2. Your dog is barking. You don't know why. It is irritating. You poke your head out the back door. He freaks out and barks more. your neighbors complain.

3. Your dog craps everywhere in the backyard. The only time you find yourself with the dog is to feed him, give him water, and clean the crap. Your dog freaks out. It sucks.

4. You go on vacation. You can't take the dog with you, because you don't think it can behave. You have to pay a kennel to keep him. It's expensive. You find yourself not making trips, because of the dog.

5. You finally get tired of it all. The kids don't care about the dog. You don't care about the dog. You try to give it away. No one wants your unmannered backyard unadjusted dog. You give it to the animal shelter, hoping it will be adopted, knowing it will probably be killed.

The end.

Better to not have a dog than go through this.

This is right on the money.

[Detroitdad]

Originally Posted by BlueHair

This is right on the money.

At least they are better than cats.