|
puppy finder
Hi, can you tell me if there is a service out there that will help you find the perfect puppy match for your family? We want a dog, but we want to be sure it will be a good fit for our family. Thank you!
[ ]
Want to answer more questions in the Domesticity category?
Maybe give some free advice about: Pets?
I have adopted my two dogs from Petfinder.com
It is a fantastic website because every dog listed there is currently homeless and looking for a loving forever family. There are dogs of every breed/mix, every age, every level of training, every energy level. Basically what I'm trying to say is you absolutely can find your perfect dog on that website.
Adopting is definitely the best way to get a new dog. You're saving a life, and opening valuable space in the rescue so that they can save yet another life. The dogs know it too, and they are always very grateful. It is also more economical for your family. A dog from a "reputable" (though I would argue that there is NO breeder that is reputable because we already have too many dogs without homes) will easily cost you $700 for the dog, and an additional $200-$400 in vet care to get them fixed and up to date on shots. Rescues will charge an adoption fee, but you're basically just reimbursing them for the vet care (your dog will usually come up to date on everything, unless they are too young to be spayed which is unlikely), and some the costs of care (food, cleaning, etc.).
Notice I say dog, and not puppy. I reiterate that because I have worked in animal rescue for many years and one of the most common and heartless reasons that people leave their dogs at the shelter or pound is that they "got too big" or simply "weren't cute anymore". It's important to remember that every puppy will grow up, and when you adopt a dog you must understand that you are making a lifelong commitment to a living creature that will depend entirely on you and your family. Make sure you evaluate exactly what your whole family is looking for in a dog, then use the search criteria on Petfinder.com to find your perfect lifelong match.
A lot of rescues now have 1 week or 2 week trial periods, which is fantastic because it ensures that every dog is going to the perfect family for them, and vice versa. If they don't explicitly state that they do trials, just ask! Explain your concerns, that you're looking for the right dog, and ask if for some reason it doesn't work out if you'll be able to bring the dog back and adopt a different dog instead. As long as they understand your reasoning they should be ok with it.
]
All I could find on the internet are sites that describe which breeds are the best breeds for a family depending on their lifestyle and if there are kids. Thats all fine and dandy. But I remember viewing TV shows that refine that search even better. Because even in the perfect breed, there are still differences in a whole litter of puppies and their own personality traits that make the even better fit and I am sure thats what you are really looking for, only I could not find any links to agencies or companies that do this for a living.
You might try purchasing a magazine about Dogs for dog lovers and see if any such companys advertise in there.
Or try to find a way to contact the Dog Whisperer, Cesar Milan to ask him if he can direct you to a listing for your state of companies that sell puppies and match the exact personality of the individual dog to the family.
]
An old friend of mine found their dog on www.puppyfinder.com and ended up being very satisfied.
Sometimes it helps to check your local shelter, I found my cat there and boy is she my world!
]
Hi,
This is a link to a site on Dogtime that matches your wants in a puppy to different puppy breeds: [Link](Mouse over link to see full location)
This is a link to a quiz that will give you an idea of what it entails when you get a dog for the first time: [Link](Mouse over link to see full location)
I recently got a puppy myself and can tell you it is a lot of work and quite a bit of destruction. However, I have to admit he is adorable and lovable.
I wish you all the best and hope you find an amazing fit!
Durga
]
More Questions: |