Adopting A dog - things to consider?

[cecil]

I'm at a point in my life now where I can own a dog, obviously given that I'm hear I'd like to train him.. I have been chatting with a lady from this site who is keen to help train him so now it's a question of what to get.

I dont really want a puppy. I would prefer a young male dog, maybe from the pound that is still complete. I think pound dogs are left to rot a lot of the time so Id like to give one a loving home.
When selecting one, what are the things you need to be aware of or look out for? I grew up with dogs both in agriculture and as pets.. But never had the responsibility of owning one as such.

 

[nekdoneco123]

main thing you should consider is what kind of dog is your living situation/lifestyle suitable for. meaning, you'd probably not want to get a very high energy dog if you're a couch potato or live in just a small apartment...

also, you being here doesn't make it "obvious" you want to train him/her for sex. training for sex is something you shouldn't ever do.... and i don't mean "don't have sex". i mean, don't turn sex for him/her into "if you fuck me/let me fuck you, you'll get treats" which robs him/her of valuable input in the matter. all you should do is encourage him/her when she/he does show any interest. don't force it.

 

[Loup Perdu]

Yeah same advice here, you can "train" him/her to adopt certain posture or not being too hasty or something but before that, you have to make sure that (s)he wants to do the things with pleasure.

 

[Dogdaddy69]

If you get it from ANY animal shelter, and you're here on this site, you are wasting your time. Unless you just strictly want a pet, in which case, pounds are great because the animal won't be destroyed.

A REQUIREMENT for any adoption in the US is that you have the animal spayed or neutered. That's IRONCLAD....you may be able to avoid it for a short period of time, but eventually, they WILL come, with deputies in tow, and repo the animal if you don't get the sterilization done.

The only reason they don't do the deed themselves when they get the animal is for cost savings. As in, if they end up putting it down anyway, why waste the time and resources.

Try the news paper (unlikely nowdays), bulletin boards in places like grocery stores and laundromats, craigslist, etc and avoid any animal shelter at all costs. MOST breeders are going to require you to sterilize the dog to protect their financial interests as well, and you can believe THOSE sales contracts are written in blood. Every now and then, you'll find a breeder willing to SELL you the "right" to keep the animal intact (for breeding purposes of your own, conventional ........they believe......) but, you can expect them to go very deep into your ass for that "right"....like in the thousands of dollars, depending on breed and the breeder.

 

[Louisianak9]

Most dogs are neutered at pound

 

[Dogdaddy69]

Most dogs are neutered at pound

Depends on where you are located. A lot of shelters are run on shoestring budgets and don't do their own sterilizations. SOME places, they get state funding specifically for sterilization, or they used to, not sure anymore. But there are quite a few that do nothing and dump it on the adopter to have done. Check local shelters to find out what is done in your area is the best advice I can offer. But, either way, the animal will be or have to be, sterilized.

 

[Louisianak9]

Depends on where you are located. A lot of shelters are run on shoestring budgets and don't do their own sterilizations. SOME places, they get state funding specifically for sterilization, or they used to, not sure anymore. But there are quite a few that do nothing and dump it on the adopter to have done. Check local shelters to find out what is done in your area is the best advice I can offer. But, either way, the animal will be or have to be, sterilized.

Yes you are correct