Thread: a litttle dog help, please.

i'm planning on adding another dog to the family (if you count our existing dog-like foofoo animal as a dog) and am looking for some advice.
i want a mid to large sized dog, preferably short-haired or wire-haired. needs to be good with foofoo dog (really passive male bijon) and kids (tweener and a teen). i want a dog that likes to get out and run, chase a ball or frisbee, run with the bike, etc., but doesn't require constant exercise and attention. i work out of the house so i'd be with him/her a lot and i need a dog that won't constantly beg to go play. it'll also need to get along with the cat (who pretty much never leaves our bedroom so that shouldn't be a big issue). i understand that dogs attitudes vary widely even within a breed, but it's all important info.
we've got a fenced back yard that should be tall enough for a jumper.
i've always had the best luck with female dogs, so i'll probably stick with that.
whatever breed we pick will be purchased from a rescue facility only.
what breeds do you have experience with that might be a good fit?

Lab

Lab

Lab

Rabid Pit Bull.

Or a lab would work too, I guess.

Australian Shepherd

except for the "i need a dog that won't constantly beg to go play" part

Try this it matches you up with perspective dog types, I like Iceman's idea though.

The lab that is.

http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/

Lab

If the cat's not concerned, your little yip-dog would be okay too...

edit: speaking of the cat not being concerned. The other day I'm on the sofa with the dog sleeping on my lap. The cat jumps up onto my shoulder, spies the dog's tags, bats at them once, then grabs them in her teeth and tries to run away. Obviously she's not picking up the dog, so she digs her feet in and starts pulling. The dog is half asleep, with the WTF is my head moving around when I'm trying to sleep. The cat's still tugging away "Mine, Mine!", suddenly gives up, jumps on the other sofa and starts cleaning herself - like what are you looking at me for?

Our pets are insane. At least they get along...

Gotta say a lab. My experience w/ 3 females in my lifetime is that they are plenty able to follow you on a trail all day and lay in bed watching movies all day long the next. Great low maint. dogs that are smarter than a majority of the population.

Golden Retriever or Lab.

Ginger

Female wire hair fox terrier

Doesn't shed

Small, but not a condo-dog either

Great with kids

After a short period of time getting used to our Kerry Blue terrier and two cats, she is great with our other animals

Loves to get out and run, chase a ball or frisbee, run with the bike, etc.

Doesn't require constant exercise and attention. She won't constantly beg to go play, but she's ready to go anytime you are

No fenced back yard, no dog

We have too many pets . . . . our loss is your gain.

thanks all.
i figured the lab was the right way to go. i was hoping some exotic breed i'd never heard of would pop up though. the rabid pit-bull idea is interesting. could spice up the neighborhood a little.
i really like the australian shepherds but it'd have to be much mellower than their normal constant motion.
altagirl... is that cat stoned or dead?

edit: IG, is that your dog or is that from an ad? i'm probably going to look for a minimum of a few weeks before picking one.

Originally posted by jibij
i was hoping some exotic breed i'd never heard of would pop up though.

you could always go with the Chinese Crested? Ugliest dog I have ever seen, but they are great family dogs.

Originally posted by iskibc
you could always go with the Chinese Crested? Ugliest dog I have ever seen, but they are great family dogs.

heh... even my sissy dog could kick his ass.

lab mix. we got a great lab/retriever/??? from the pound in WA... lots of pound pups need good homes.

Originally posted by jibij

altagirl... is that cat stoned or dead?

There might have been catnip involved.

Lab Rescue is the way. There used to be a Colorado website, but now it's an ad for a book on dogs or some shit.

You could visit these guys on a LCC trip.

if we go with a lab, it'll come from the DDFL or here:
http://www.safeharborlabrescue.org/

Dude, got get peanut now! You will have a best friend for the next 10-15 years.

Here's a question for you lab owners. I've always wanted a lab. Never owned a dog. Soon we'll be in a place where that would be a possibility. The downside is it will be a 1200sqft condo with no option for a doggy door, and my fiance and I will be at work all day.

While I'd love to have a lab, I really don't want to get one if it won't be happy living in a space that small. What do you all think?

Thanks!

What ever breed you pick PLEASE get the dog from a " Kill Shelter " there are several in the metro area ( i can PM you a list ). That way you can always hold it over the dogs head if he/she does something bad i.e " you chewed up my shoes ! ! ! I saved your life and this is the thanks I get ! ! "

seriously though don't buy from a breeder good dogs are killed every day.

Just so 1080rider's post doesn't look quite so demented...

http://www.safeharborlabrescue.org/E...ut_200402.html

Originally posted by 365wp
Here's a question for you lab owners. I've always wanted a lab. Never owned a dog. Soon we'll be in a place where that would be a possibility. The downside is it will be a 1200sqft condo with no option for a doggy door, and my fiance and I will be at work all day.

While I'd love to have a lab, I really don't want to get one if it won't be happy living in a space that small. What do you all think?

Thanks!

We got a place with a yard first. I guess it would really depend on your schedule and dedication to going on walks and stuff. Are you ever late coming home? The more exercise they get, the more content they are to lay around all day... When we go camping/hiking/biking/swimming on weekends, our Lab will sleep 23.5 hours a day until about Wednesday the next week. He's fine just fetching sticks in the yard and stalking the cat (he thinks he's sneaky, but he's not...) but if you want him passed out cold in the house it takes extra exercise.

And:
Somebody needs to get Peanut now!

Originally posted by Pinner
Just so 1080rider's post doesn't look quite so demented...

http://www.safeharborlabrescue.org/E...ut_200402.html

I was definitely wondering what he was smoking.