Or #1, adopt from a rescue shelter with foster homes. I adopted my 3 month old Boxer this week from LSBR. Best $300.00 I've ever spent/donated. Yes, we do have two PureBreds bought from certified breeders in the house registered with AKC as well. Two of the most kick ass dogs, but this time it was my choice, and I'm all about adoption. Awesome decision! This pic, runt mini Schnauzer I'm taking care of for my parents, brought home through Pasadena Animal Shelter, 10 years old. American Dingo, also my parents adopted from the same shelter. Both great dogs with zero health problems. Also my new 'lil Boxer and my Purebred Champagne Schnauzer with Blue eyes. Complete r****d and bought though a breeder. J/K Love that pup, but he is friggin' r****ded. The Alpha female, bought through a Breeder, and pretty much the smartest dog I've have ever owned. Like a little princess but can be a major b**** when showing her dominance.
We adopted "Rocket" from our county Animal Shelter about 3.5 years ago. He was about 12 weeks old at the time. Talk to them about what you are looking for. Labs need to be outside a lot and have an extended adolescent period. There are considerations like that that you need to fold in to any decision.
LonghornFan, It always seems that an Alpha dog has a r****ded companion -- just like in the comic strips. It's like, "ok, cool, you be the Alpha, I don't want that responsibility." Sometimes I think the "r****d" ones are just acting dumb to get away with breaking the rules and get more treats.
Back to the giant breed point- the puppies do have energy when they're awake, but they sleep most of the time because they grow so much. I have a 4-month-old English Mastiff puppy that has grown 34 lbs in the 2 months I've had him. He sleeps about 18 hours a day.
Yeah one should never ask advice on where to buy a puppy or how to do it economically. NO PUPPY FOR YOU!
You've gotten some excellent advice so far in this thread. I'll toss in my two cents here. I don't know if it makes you a pretentious ass or anything if you go through a breeder, but it's so much more fulfilling if you adopt a dog (or two ). They've often been through ****ty conditions before they found people to care about them at animal shelters and even then, the animal shelters can only provide a baseline of care for them. They can't take care of them forever. We get our first dog this way through B.A.R.C. from Petsmart during their weekly Saturday adoption sessions. She was 9 months at the time and now she's almost 4 years old. To give a homeless animal a second chance and the fact that she's been a great dog has just been awesome. I often thought you generally got a bad dog if you adopted, but more and more organizations are doing very detailed research after they take in homeless dogs/cats/etc. We have a 2nd dog now, but we found him Here's Molly... She came with the glasses from Petsmart, LOLOLOLOL.
don't know if OP is in Houston or not. The truth is that those saying you aren't ready for a dog are probably right. If you still view a dog as a possession (focus on "buying"), and are concerned about cost as much as you seem to be, that could spell trouble. You do recognize the upfront cost is nothing compared to lifelong cost of pet ownership, right? And that a dog isn't a possession that you can just throw away, or leave the next time you move, right? Still, there are so many dogs in need, if your heart is in it for the right reasons, I nonetheless encourage you to get a dog. Some good rescue groups in Houston. http://www.pupsquad.org/ - for puppies http://furrypalsrescue.org/default.aspx - primarily smaller breeds http://redcollar.org/ - great group if you do go the adoption route - which you should - the cheapest way to do that would be to go straight to the pound yourself. http://www.houstontx.gov/barc/index.php That said, the rescue groups will make sure the dog is healthy before adopting out (you can adopt out a seemingly healthy dog from the pound, but it might actually have some kind of sickness - parvo, distemper, who knows - that will show itself in the week(s) after you adopt... a lot of dogs from the pound do have something as they are all huddled together in not the best of conditions in typically big, open air spaces... the rescue groups work them through that initial sickness post pound).
I adopted my dog, had her for six years now. I've had many dogs, many breeds my whole life, but she by far is the best dog I've ever had. If you choose to adopt a dog, you pretty much know what you're gonna get, and I don't think you'll regret it.
We call him T.O.E.S. ...wife says it's short for sir Thomas Ormand Ellington Smythe...but it's also because his paws are white and look like toes, and because he would bite at our toes when we first got him. I've pretty much conceded the picnic table to him (after spending so much time refinishing it!). He's content on it, so might as well leave him be.
lol, one of our dogs pretty much has taken over one of our recliner chairs. sometimes we get to sit in it , sometimes not.
I just adopted my 2nd dog this weekend. I got this one from a Petco Adoption day. They were $150-$200 each. They both came neutered/spayed, with a microchipped, rabies shot and up to date vaccinations, so the price is pretty sweet.
