Breed Recs

Hey everyone, I’m new to dogs in general so please forgive any ignorant responses to these questions as I do not know all the nuances of being a dog owner below I’ve answered all the questions from the sidebar. I appreciate y’all’s help in advance.

1. ⁠Will this be your first dog? If not, what experience do you have owning/training dogs?

Yes it will be my first dog.

1. ⁠Do you have a preference for rescuing a dog vs. going through a reputable breeder?

I’d like to go through a breeder but I don’t know if I’ll have the time to train a puppy every single day so I’d be willing to rescue as well. My main concern is health issues, I want a dog that will be healthy because it would make me quite sad to see my dog in pain or sick.

1. ⁠Describe your ideal dog.

Chill most of the time but also willing to play and exercise with me.

1. ⁠What breeds or types of dogs are you interested in and why?

I’ve been looking at labs and would like a medium to medium-large sized dog. I’ve seen good things about English labs because they are usually not as full of energy as American labs.

1. ⁠What sorts of things would you like to train your dog to do?

The basics at first, but eventually I want them to follow me off leash and learn to come to the sound of my voice with one command.

1. ⁠Do you want to compete with your dog in a sport (e.g. agility, obedience, rally) or use your dog for a form of work (e.g. hunting, herding, livestock guarding)? If so, how much experience do you have with this work/sport?

No I don’t want to compete I just want them to be a good companion who likes to participate in activities

Care Commitments

7) How long do you want to devote to training, playing with, or otherwise interacting with your dog each day?

I would say an hour to 90 mins I’m very busy but I’ll always have time at the end of the day when I get back from work

8) How long can you exercise your dog each day, on average? What sorts of exercise are you planning to give your dog regularly and does that include using a dog park?

My apartment has a dog park connected to it and I have space behind my unit as well, I’d say that the 90 minutes at the end of my day would include training as well as exercise.

9) How much regular brushing are you willing to do? Are you open to trimming hair, cleaning ears, or doing other grooming at home? If not, would you be willing to pay a professional to do it regularly?

I would be willing to basic grooming at home but for more advanced grooming I’d take them to a professional

Personal Preferences

10) What size dog are you looking for?

Medium to large but not too big like a Great Dane or mastiff

11) How much shedding, barking, and slobber can you handle?

I’d like minimal of all three but I understand that’s a dream scenario the most important is minimal barking because I live in an apartment

12) How important is being able to let your dog off-leash in an unfenced area?

Very important

Dog Personality and Behavior

13) Do you want a snuggly dog or one that prefers some personal space?

Snuggly

14) Would you prefer a dog that wants to do its own thing or one that’s more eager-to-please?

Eager to please

15) How would you prefer your dog to respond to someone knocking on the door or entering your yard? How would you prefer your dog to greet strangers or visitors?

Calm but be open to meeting new people when they come to my place.

16) Are you willing to manage a dog that is aggressive to other dogs?

I’d rather not

17) Are there any other behaviors you can’t deal with or want to avoid?

The main thing is that I don’t want them to be aggressive to people and other dogs. I understand this can also be trained out of them

Lifestyle

18) How often and how long will the dog be left alone?

I’m in college and go to class as well as work so it varies, but I’d say on average it’s about 5-6 hrs a day

19) What are the dog-related preferences of other people in the house and what will be their involvement in caring for the dog?

I live alone.

20) Do you have other pets or are you planning on having other pets? What breed or type of animal are they?

No

21) Will the dog be interacting with children regularly?

No

22) Do you rent or plan to rent in the future? If applicable, what breed or weight restrictions are on your current lease?

I haven’t seen any restrictions on my lease

23) What city or country do you live in and are you aware of any laws banning certain breeds?

I live in Mississippi and no

24) What is the average temperature of a typical summer and winter day where you live?

Very hot summers with highs in the 90s and mild winters with Lows in the 30s