Introduction
- Hey there! We're a family of four (two kids) and looking into getting a dog. Please help with what breed we should look into.
1)Will this be your first dog? If not, what experience do you have owning/training dogs?
- We both grew up with dogs. However we never owned a dog of our own.
2)Do you have a preference for rescuing a dog vs. going through a reputable breeder?
- We would like to go through a reputable breeder since we feel like there is less risk in ending up with odd behaviours. This is especially due to the safety of our two young kids.
3)Describe your ideal dog.
- Our ideal dog should be big (possibly huge) and very chill. The dog should be very good with younger kids since we have a girl (7yo) and a boy (3yo) in our house. We cannot deal with any kind of hunting instinct since we live close to woods and fields and our house will have open doors especially throughout the summer season. I do like to jog and workout and would love to have a dog to be my partner in this type of exercise. It doesn't need to be much though. I don't run full marathons or anything. Being extremely chill is probably the more important requirement.
4)What breeds or types of dogs are you interested in and why?
- We were looking into Bernese or Newfoundland dogs but are generally open to other breeds as well.
5)What sorts of things would you like to train your dog to do?
- It would be very important to walk without a leash in almost any situation. Besides that there's not that much necessary. My daughter may have an interest to start agility training at some point in time but that is very optional!
6)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?
- Possibly but very optional. No experience at all.
Care Commitments
7)How long do you want to devote to training, playing with, or otherwise interacting with your dog each day?
- I can do a walk or light workout session for about an hour every day. Possibly even more.
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?
- Definitely take the dog on short jogs/runs multiple times a week as a workout partner. Other than that regular long walks are very feasible for us. My daugther may have an interest in teaching some tricks. A dog park is unfortunately not nearby.
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?
- We will do what has to be done. And yes, we would be willing to pay a professional if necessary.
Personal Preferences
10)What size dog are you looking for?
- large, possibly huge. No real limit.
11)How much shedding, barking, and slobber can you handle?
- We can handle it but generally speaking the lesser the better.
12)How important is being able to let your dog off-leash in an unfenced area?
Dog Personality and Behavior
13)Do you want a snuggly dog or one that prefers some personal space?
14)Would you prefer a dog that wants to do its own thing or one that’s more 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?
- Yes, greeting strangers and visitors would be prefered.
16)Are you willing to manage a dog that is aggressive to other dogs?
- Absolutely not. We cannot handle that along with two small kids.
17)Are there any other behaviors you can’t deal with or want to avoid?
- Hunting instinct is a no-go.
Lifestyle
18)How often and how long will the dog be left alone?
- Very little since both of us work from home
19)What are the dog-related preferences of other people in the house and what will be their involvement in caring for the dog?
- The dog needs to be able to handle two young kids. Other than that I've described everything above.
20)Do you have other pets or are you planning on having other pets? What breed or type of animal are they?
21)Will the dog be interacting with children regularly?
- Yes, very much so. Girl (7yo) and boy (3yo)
22)Do you rent or plan to rent in the future? If applicable, what breed or weight restrictions are on your current lease?
- We live in our own house which is fairly large
23)What city or country do you live in and are you aware of any laws banning certain breeds?
- German countryside. No breeds banned.
24)What is the average temperature of a typical summer and winter day where you live?
- ~25C in Summer and ~5C in Winter… +-10C
Additional Information and Questions
25)Please provide any additional information you feel may be relevant.
- No additional information.
26)Feel free to ask any questions below.