My wife and I are looking for a dog. We've been looking for one for about 2 months now. I think she's just too picky. But I guess its good to get the right dog for us.

Here's what we're looking for:
- A dog that is good with our 2 year old son (this is, far and away, the most important quality)
- We'd prefer a dog around 8 months - 2 years old.
- It needs to be able to be an indoor dog since we don't have a fence
- Up to date on shots (microchipping would be nice)
- Fixed
- A dog that is house broken and maybe crate trained.
- A dog that isn't skiddish around new people
- A dog that hasn't been mistreated as a puppy.

We're looking for Golden Retrievers, labs, boxers and beagles. I really prefer goldens and beagles.

Anyone have any recommendations as to where I can look for this? We've been watching the SPCA website and petfinder. Craigslist seems a lil sketchy to me.

If anyone knows a breeder of golden retriever's, PLEASE let me know because I'd be willing to buy a pure bred Golden.

[Edited on May 16, 2008 at 1:57 PM. Reason : .]

5/16/2008 1:53:58 PM

I'd suggest getting a puppy from a breeder. That way you know the history of his/her parents and how they behave.

That is, unless you don't want to be responsible for shots, training, and housebreaking.

I'm confused as to why you listed microchipping with the shots. Microchipping doesn't record shot information unless I'm mistaken. Thats for retrieval of your pet if lost and found by someone else.

5/16/2008 1:56:13 PM

I love beagles, they are good w/ kids too. only problem is they love to run in the woods and shit

5/16/2008 1:56:47 PM

^^ I just listed it with shots because I've been seeing it listed with shots on SPCA website and petfinder.

5/16/2008 1:57:55 PM

I can't possibly be happier with my Labrador, he's pretty much everything you've described. I'd be happy to give you his breeder's information, but I'm not sure getting a puppy while your son is 2 is such a great idea. I'd probably wait until he's 4-5 and is capable of understanding things like, "don't pull the puppy's ears." You'd might very well be better off getting an adult dog from a retriever rescue or something.

http://labrescuenc.org/

http://www.goldenrescuenc.org/

A lot of times these are dogs that are good animals, but the owners did not realize that dogs are a big responsibility and that sporting dogs like labs and goldens require exercise and effort. They're lovable, easy to train, and energetic but they require work. If you want low energy get a basset hound.

5/16/2008 2:05:17 PM

or a english bulldog

actually mine is very active for an E.B. but they're usually lazy as hell

5/16/2008 2:41:16 PM

It's hard to move much when your legs are only 3 inches long.

5/16/2008 2:43:39 PM

i JUST checked out a dog that would be perfect...she's a ~18mo old rescue that's a hound mix...the woman who has her (it's technically a shelter, but she keeps them all on her land out in garner) has a little girl, and the dog is very gentle around her...she's house and crate trained, and very eager to please (she does tend to follow you around, but she's careful)

i've got the woman's contact information (her name is deborah, and the dog's name is shelly)

http://www.petfinder.com/petnote/displaypet.cgi?petid=10800562

[Edited on May 16, 2008 at 2:52 PM. Reason : .]

5/16/2008 2:51:33 PM

true

she's gonna be one big bitch

this is her dad.. he was in the movie Leatherheads..



[Edited on May 16, 2008 at 2:53 PM. Reason : ^that sounds like an excellent possibility for this guy though, good find]

5/16/2008 2:52:30 PM

I would recommend a Golden. They're intelligent, great with kids, and they mellow out fast.

5/16/2008 2:56:47 PM

I'd just like to second that you probably do not want to get a puppy (or small breed) with a toddler in the house. Toddlers and puppies can be a bad mix because a toddler doesn't understand how to treat a dog and a puppy is still learning. Rough treatment by a child can really ruin a puppy who could have been a great dog. Small breed dogs are usually too fragile and can be hurt by a small child's handling. A beagle's hips could easily be hurt by the pulling, tugging, dragging, and sitting that small children are prone to. And small breeds are more likely to bite simply because they are small and have no other recourse. I am not sure if beagles would fall into that category because all of the beagles that I have been around weren't nippy.

But just some thoughts.

You might want to check the Carolina Bargain Trader. They usually have plenty of dog listings.

5/16/2008 3:14:15 PM

I like Shelly, but I'm still kinda stuck on a Golden.

I agree with bottom that a puppy wouldn't be the best and the SPCA recommends 6 months old or older.

5/16/2008 3:56:23 PM

haha a 6 month old golden or lab is still going to be a HANDFUL just fyi.

i would second the people who have said check w/ golden rescues around the area. a quick google search of "golden retriever rescue north carolina" gives lots of listings. you could also check the wake animal shelter. obviously a lot of dogs in there were strays etc BUT some are owner surrenders/lost dogs so you may be able to find what you're looking for. and wake shelter pets come vetted.

just remember that dogs are a handful. a lot of people who have young children get dogs and then surrender them to shelters etc because they cannot handle the work. just be careful!! its a commitment for ~10-15 years.

also i don't think craigslist is THAT sketchy. you can always meet the dog/owner first with your family and make a judgment call from there.

there are plenty of unwanted animals so you should be able to find one that suits your needs!! i'd definitely check with a golden rescue. petsmart and some other places have adoptathons frequently as well so you might want to hit those up on the weekends.

5/16/2008 4:51:16 PM

My parents golden as a puppy was dreadful. She used to chew brass doorstops (chew through TWO of them), chew the molding below windows and rip holes through clothes... She is great now and never misbehaves but the puppy years (and yes, goldens are puppies for years) were bad...

5/16/2008 4:54:54 PM

I think if you're very specific in what you want, please check out some rescue sites. I adore some puppies but I got my dog from border collie rescue at 8 mos old and didn't have to go through all the housebreaking and such.

good luck and let us know what you find!

5/16/2008 5:14:47 PM

try http://www.savinggracenc.org

i got a 2 year old beagle/jack russel from there about 2 years ago. best dog ever.

5/16/2008 5:29:31 PM

Golden Retrievers are wonderful dogs and great in terms of temperament and working at a vet clinic I've seen many die of cancer. Thats entirely anecdotal so I wouldn't let this affect your decision in any way, other than suggesting doing research on the health and longevity of whatever pet your kid will grow up with, but I've seen a lot of them go that way. I hadn't really noticed it until a few coworkers pointed out the numbers to me just from the clinic I work at.

---
Just doing a quick google search I found this site whose authenticity I know nothing about:
http://www.gaylans.com/diseases.html

Quote :

"Cancer. Recent surveys show that cancer is the #1 cause of death in golden retrievers. Their cancer rates equal some of the breeds long thought to lead the way in incidents of cancer, such as Boxers. This may be the greatest tragedy of the golden retriever in the 1990s. Cancers such as hemangiosarcoma (cancer of the blood) and lymphosarcoma (cancer of the lymphatic system) lead the list of killers of goldens. The breed's average lifespan is now down to 10 1/2 years."

I still maintain they are great dogs & I wouldn't rule out any breed without doing real research.

[Edited on May 16, 2008 at 6:22 PM. Reason : .]

5/16/2008 6:20:49 PM

I really like the sounds of http://savinggracenc.org/dogs/index.php?dog_id=214#dog_info

I think I'll put in an application to see how Lovie acts with my son.

5/16/2008 6:41:43 PM

holy crap that is a cute dog!!!!

5/16/2008 8:04:56 PM

My English Bulldog is the perfect dog for a lifestyle like that. The friendliest animal ever, requires no exercise...though mine will get excited and does like to play fort short periods of time.

5/16/2008 8:07:01 PM

Yeah, my sister has an english bulldog. He is about 4 years old and she lives a few houses down from us and my son LOVES him. I just don't want to deal with all the drooooool. lol

5/17/2008 7:11:18 AM

I can vouch for Beagles as far as being good with kids- we found my 2-year-old running through a state park last fall and she went from being abused, skittish, not housebroken and unfixeds to being housebroken/spayed, good around bikes and trustworthy with kids. She's fairly small for a Beagle, under 13", but she doesn't intimidate anybody. Small children pull her ears and pet her at the Co-op and she's never bitten or snarled at anyone.

One word about Beagles, though, they're very intelligent, pack-oriented hounds, driven by their noses. You need to win them over with food, and mean what you say training wise, as they're not pleasers like Labs or Goldens-more independent thinkers. They also get fat easily if they're not run out or walked regularly- my mom's Beagle is neurotic and diverts his attention to getting out of the yard and howling.

Also, NEVER trust them off-leash. There are some rare Beagles I've seen who are awesome in coming back, but the temptation to chase a squirrel/small moving object or scent is too great.

5/17/2008 2:45:13 PM

^ the only reservation i have with a beagle is that they're so vocal.

my wife might have found the dog for us.

http://www.goldenrescuenc.org/available_dogs.html - BRONWYN

They were at a adoption show today and my wife went out there to see em. My wife said she did great with our son and is not skiddish at all. I just hate the name. Think it would be hard to get her off that name? Even if we went with something similar sounding.

[Edited on May 17, 2008 at 3:53 PM. Reason : 1]

5/17/2008 3:53:26 PM

this one is real good with children

5/17/2008 6:09:12 PM

5/21/2008 10:26:40 AM

^^ aha

5/21/2008 10:40:10 AM

Quote :

"I can vouch for Beagles as far as being good with kids- we found my 2-year-old running through a state park last fall and she went from being abused, skittish, not housebroken and unfixeds to being housebroken/spayed, good around bikes and trustworthy with kids. She's fairly small for a Beagle, under 13", but she doesn't intimidate anybody. Small children pull her ears and pet her at the Co-op and she's never bitten or snarled at anyone. One word about Beagles, though, they're very intelligent, pack-oriented hounds, driven by their noses. You need to win them over with food, and mean what you say training wise, as they're not pleasers like Labs or Goldens-more independent thinkers. They also get fat easily if they're not run out or walked regularly- my mom's Beagle is neurotic and diverts his attention to getting out of the yard and howling. Also, NEVER trust them off-leash. There are some rare Beagles I've seen who are awesome in coming back, but the temptation to chase a squirrel/small moving object or scent is too great."

Yah, I've got a Basset and he's the same way.

He's good off the leash until he sees children and/or animals. He just catches animal scents and runs off...and he absolutely loves children in my neighborhood.

He's dumb as a brick unless you have food, then he is the most intelligent dog ever.

Awesome dog, but not obedient and is about as sharp as a bowling ball unless he's being rewarded with food.

[Edited on May 21, 2008 at 11:01 AM. Reason : ]

5/21/2008 10:56:44 AM

http://raleigh.craigslist.org/pet/688186646.html

i know you think craigslist is too sketchy BUT....look at this face.

5/21/2008 11:17:17 AM

Be sure to research health issues for specific breeds before deciding on a dog. I mention this specifically b/c English Bulldogs have been mentioned a lot in this thread, and unfortunately they have several health issues.

5/21/2008 11:53:06 AM

^^
That looks like my dog when she was a pup!

5/21/2008 6:44:52 PM