I have never owned a dog before, but I would like to purchase my first dog.?

I would like to get my first dog. Could you please give me some recommendations on what would be a good first dog for me. I want a small puppy that will not get big at all to keep inside of my home. I also don't want a dog that will shed hair all over the place. Please help.

I have never owned a dog before, but I would like to purchase my first dog.?

For yjr first time dog owner, you need to first fit the new puppy to your way of living,,,,do you live in an apartment, if so then you will want a small dog...If you have allergies, then you want a dog with fur, not hair that sheds all over everything...The perfect breed is a miniature schnauzer, fur, they need to be groomed and do not shed, they need to be groomed at least once a month to keep coat in good shape...or a yorkie, or a pug, a small pet....if you own a home and have a nice yard, then the preference for most people are Golden Retrievers, Labs, do you have children fit the dog to your way of living....

I have never owned a dog before, but I would like to purchase my first dog.?

A pit bull, don't believe the stereotypes about them.

I have never owned a dog before, but I would like to purchase my first dog.?

Then get a boy-friend!

I have never owned a dog before, but I would like to purchase my first dog.?

maybe a lhasa alpso or a yorkie may i suggest to forget about the small thing and get a collie they are so cute well natured loyal easy to train! just perfect i am suggesting collies!

I have never owned a dog before, but I would like to purchase my first dog.?

www.akc.com has a list of all purebred dogs. They go into size, temperament, coat, color etc... you can get all the information there.

I'm thinking maybe miniature schnauzer

http://www.akc.org/future_dog_owner/find...

I have never owned a dog before, but I would like to purchase my first dog.?

A peekapom

It's a peekinese and pomeranian mix

They only get about apprx 10 inches high

Are good watch dogs

perfect for small apt.

I have never owned a dog before, but I would like to purchase my first dog.?

What about a jack russel??? They are a small dog with short hair and low mantainance. They have a very active personalitly and can be very intelligant if you are willing to put in the time and effort to train them... Have a look at some picures of them see if they appeal to you... Good luck

I have never owned a dog before, but I would like to purchase my first dog.?

I think it's great when people to get a puppy but be prepared for alot clean up unless you crate you pet. I think it's cruel to crate an animail day after day. you my want to aske yourself this question, am I ready for a puppy ? another option is a local shelter i have had good luck there even with a pit, she turned out to be the best animal I have known and great with my two boys. good luck

I have never owned a dog before, but I would like to purchase my first dog.?

IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR A SMALL DOG THAT DOESNT SHED THEN YOU COULD LOOK INTO A MINATURE POODLE. MY MOM HAS ONE AND SWEARS BY IT. ME PERSONALLY I LIKE BOXERS BUT THEY ARE NOT VERY LITTLE.:)

I have never owned a dog before, but I would like to purchase my first dog.?

Well terriers are good and obedient dogs

I have never owned a dog before, but I would like to purchase my first dog.?

If you are up to a high-energy dog, you could consider a Boston Terrier. They've got really short hair and don't shed much except in the spring, but it's not bad, really, just little hairs you have to brush off your shirt after holding them.

They are extremely intelligent and have loads of personality and charisma. They MUST be kept as "inside dogs," though because of their short hair, snubbed noses and intolerance for extreme temperatures.

Breed standard for an adult is 15 to 25 pounds.

I have never owned a dog before, but I would like to purchase my first dog.?

Whatever kind of dog you get, DON'T get one from a pet store. They get their dogs from puppy mills. Try to get one from a breeder or better yet look through the classifieds like the pennysaver or the newspaper. I got my little maltese from the pennysaver for only 300 dollars, and she was about a year old when I got her so she was still a puppy but not so wild like littler ones can be.

I have never owned a dog before, but I would like to purchase my first dog.?

What about a Shih Tzu? Great dogs, smaller, kind-hearted and known for sweetness! :)

All dogs shed, but to prevent shedding, buy a de-shedder brush that will get the leftover hair from the undercoat. This will cool her/him, less shedding hair, less chance of mats, and bonding time!

I have a Shih Tzu -- and I know many other people who've had one. Everyone feels extremely positive about their Shih Tzu. I love her so much!

I have never owned a dog before, but I would like to purchase my first dog.?

Honestly, no one can really answer this question but you.

You have to think on your lifestyle, your living area and how much time, money and energy you are willing to put into the dog.

I suggest you go talk to your local PetSmart trainer first. Discuss your life style (Do you work a lot? Do you have to travel for work? etc). Discuss your living area (Apartment, home, home w/yard, home with acreage, etc) and then discuss the amount of money you have for the overall maintenance of the dog. (Some dogs are more prone to medical troubles than others.... some breeds are more apt to piddle when they get excited that you're coming home---hence, you would need to shampoo your carpet more often...etc)

Once you've discussed breeds with a trainer, do your homework, thoroughly, on the breeds you've given thought to!

Many people say a pitbull. I'm a pitbull owner, but believe that anyone getting this breed needs to do their homework first.

I've owned Schnauzers before too. They are great dogs, easy to care for and generally easy to train....but, they do need grooming often...which can result in a bill that you might not be able to fit into your budget.

Poms are cool dogs also. I have a pom/jack russell mix. While he's a great dog, he does shed a lot...and he barks alot. If you live in an apartment, a barking dog might cause trouble for you.

Labs and Sheperds are great dogs, but....they are bigger..need more room to run and exercise, (and more time doing so), need more food to maintain themselves ...etc. So they are a tad bit more expensive too.

Know the breed well, do research through books either by purchasing them or going to the library.

Talk with the people at your local pound. They too, have some good advice.

Good luck and happy puppy hunting!

I have never owned a dog before, but I would like to purchase my first dog.?

Well, no-one can really tell you what type of dog will suit you. The perfect dog for one person can be another person's nightmare and vice versa. Some dogs can be quite a handful for first-time dog owners, while others are more approachable.

Since you seem pretty open toward what type of breed you prefer, I would suggest steering away from the more difficult breeds and concentrate on companion dogs. The retriever group and the spaniel group is also a good place to look for first time dog owners.

A good idea is to take a few online dog selector tests to narrow down your search:

http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/search.htm

http://www.iams.com/en_BI/jhtmls/breed_s...

http://animal.discovery.com/breedselecto...

http://selectsmart.com/DOG/

Once you find some breeds that appeal to you, start reading as much as you can about them to further narrow down your search. It is important to focus on temper first and health first and looks second.

Then when you've found your kind of dog, start reading as much as you can about puppy and dog training, the different phases in puppy development, dog language etc. Use your common sense and gut feeling when it comes to training your dog. In my experience gentle methods usually yield the best long term results, although the training can take a little longer.

Also be very careful where you get your dog from. A puppy that has not been cared for properly or been properly socialised before going to its new home, can cause you a lot of grief. Puppies should not be taken from their mother before they are 8 weeks old, don't take the boldest and most boisterous of the group, don't take the one cowering in the corner. A good middle-of-the-road puppy is always a safe bet for an inexperienced dog owner.

Good luck with your new puppy! :)

I have never owned a dog before, but I would like to purchase my first dog.?

What ever you decide to get, check out the pound first. There you will find many good, unwanted puppies and dogs.Tell them what you want in a dog, and they can help you.

I have never owned a dog before, but I would like to purchase my first dog.?

I got my two dogs from a rescue group. I had to fill in some application forms, let them know what I was looking for and they found 2 maltese x poodles that were just perfect for us.

Do a google search on "hypoallergenic dogs" (they really aren't hypoallergenic - but less likely to shed etc). A poodle mix is a good choice, also Lhasa Apsos, Shihtzus, Maltese, etc. The only problem with these types of dogs is that you have to brush them a lot, and they will need regular professional grooming which is expensive. My two were abandoned because the owners didn't look after their coats.

Chiuhuahuas can be a bit aggressive and very tiny dogs can be stepped on and badly hurt.

Be prepared that new puppies are A LOT of work and can be stressful. They will pee and poop in your house, cry at night and nip at you. But they are also unbelievably gorgeous! Try to get one when you have time to spend with it at home and don't get one if you're never home.

Good luck and enjoy!

I have never owned a dog before, but I would like to purchase my first dog.?

Please adopt. So many dogs of all sizes need a good home. Check out the shelters near you, you just might find exactly what you're looking for.

I have never owned a dog before, but I would like to purchase my first dog.?

Toy or miniature poodle, Shih Tzu, Lhasa Apso, Yorkie, Maltese, Bichon, Pekingese, the list goes on. Or a mixture of these breeds.