So yeah... I want a dog

[Clarinetbiter135]

Posted: 7/8/04 at 9:53pm

Yeah. I'm looking for a breed of dog that would fit my lifestyle. 20 year old student in an apartment right across from a park. Any ideas?

[broadwayguy2]

Posted: 7/8/04 at 9:55pm

Cairn Terrier (TOTO in The Wizard of Oz), Australian Terrier

[broadwaystar2b]

Posted: 7/8/04 at 9:55pm

Broadway Barks is fast approaching.
You might wanna scout out there

[TorontoBoy]

Posted: 7/8/04 at 9:56pm

If you are serious about the dog, and don't really care about the breed, go and save a life at the local animal shelter.
That dog will be forever in your debt and they tend to have less medical problems then the purebreds.
I am sure there are lots of small dogs looking for a good home :)

Posted: 7/8/04 at 9:57pm

Or a good time.

[broadwayguy2]

Posted: 7/8/04 at 10:00pm

side note -- Uber adorbale theatre couple Jessica (hurry back to broadway PLEAE!) Grove and Deven (Why the HELL hasn't he been on Broadway yet) May adopted their rather large puppy at Broadway Barks...



and please don't forget to adopt Bernadette Peters too!

[Clarinetbiter135]

Posted: 7/8/04 at 10:00pm

Whats Broadway Barks? And I'm going to adopt from a local shelter but the lady that ran it suggested that I do a little research on my own before I step into the shelter and fall in love with every dog I see. Thinking maybe medium sized?

[beacon1]

Posted: 7/8/04 at 10:18pm

Be sure it is a kind which doesn't mind being in small spaces and can tolerate periods of isolation for the times you aren't home.
Some dogs are very nervous. I would think a smaller dog would be best. Perhaps a Welsh Spaniel? They're sweet, not too big.

[broadwayguy2]

Posted: 7/8/04 at 10:20pm

Broadway Barks is an annual adopt-a-thon in Shubert Alley organized by Bernadette peters and Mary Tyler Moore

[Matt_G]

Posted: 7/8/04 at 10:20pm

and be sure that you know exactly what the breed is that you're getting. I got my little baby and was told he was a tiny hound dog mix that would be no more than 25 pounds. 5 years later he's 75 pounds and surprise! He's not a hound dog at all, he's a Rhodesian Ridgeback. But I love him more than life itself.

[broadwayguy2]

Posted: 7/8/04 at 10:22pm

LOL. BIG boy

[Matt_G]

Posted: 7/8/04 at 10:23pm

He doesn't look that big, but he's all legs. And VERY strong.

[Broadwaylady]

Posted: 7/8/04 at 10:27pm

Yes, Broadway Barks is right there but you have to be able to transport it home. Local animal shelters are great for getting animals. Give them a second chance. I always recommend shelters.

[Matt_G]

Posted: 7/8/04 at 10:55pm

Oh, absolutely! Please save one of those puppies at a shelter. When you look at it a few years later you'll understand what a glorious thing you did.

[Clarinetbiter135]

Posted: 7/8/04 at 11:05pm

Oh! I am going to a shelter. I was just making the comment that I was told to research what I want before going to actually go pick one out. I wouldn't dream of paying to keep the business of breeding alive. Too many homeless darlings as it is. I def. don't want to contribute.

[shesings]

Posted: 7/8/04 at 11:40pm

It's hard to really pick a breed you want and then find it at a shelter. It's sort of a crap shoot there. I was told my dog (adopted 3 mo ago) was a shepard mix, when he's actually a jack russell/australian cattle dog mix. He's the best dog ever and only about 20 lbs which ended up being great for the apt! Seriously though all the shelter dogs are AMAZING. Check out www.petfinder.com. They have many listings for local shelters, with photos and info. You can also search by breed if you like. YAY for you!

[vjRichie]

Posted: 7/9/04 at 12:30am

remember that dogs need a lot of attention and love...it's their nature for being pack animals. If you are going to be in school and then off to work, never being home much with the dog - get a cat or a fish! Saving a shelter dog is great, but is he/she going to be truely happy if you're never home?

[SmrtAss]

Posted: 7/9/04 at 1:04am

If you decide there's a breed you *must* have, there are many rescue groups that focus on specific breeds, like a Golden Retriever Rescue group, or any of a number of other breeds. Like this: http://www.golden-retriever.com/rescue_contacts.htmhttp://www.golden-retriever.com/rescue_contacts.htm>http://www.golden-retriever.com/rescue_contacts.htm Google a breed you like and find out if there is one near you.

Has anybody heard of a Labradoodle? The name makes me laugh every time I hear it. It's a cross between a lab and a poodle, and is supposed to have the sweet temperment of the lab with the intelligence of a poodle. They're the hot designer dog and are quite expensive, which pretty much eliminates it as a choice. It's a shame cuz I'd love to be able to say I have a labradoodle! (For the laugh factor, not the designer dog factor.) Updated On: 7/9/04 at 01:04 AM

[SammyGal]

Posted: 7/9/04 at 2:28am

broadwayguy, Deven is in London right now with Batboy which officially opens in August! :)
He'll eventually be back!

[broadwayguy2]

Posted: 7/9/04 at 2:32am

Yes he is.. the problem being EVENTUALLY

[chasing_rainbows43]

Posted: 7/9/04 at 8:35am

Go for the absolute smallest dog you can find. Like, carry him in your purse and he'd get lost, teeeeny. Because they're really cute.
If your apt. is not big, I'd seriously go for the small dog. We just had a really big dog - and we've got a mid-sized house on the island - and he was EVERYWHERE YOU TURNED. Be wary of that.

~Sarah, not a dog person, but really kinda wants a mini-tiger, which is also purse-sized, but I don't have $2000 right now. But eventually....mini-tiger.

[orion59]

Posted: 7/9/04 at 4:15pm

Here's a suggestion. if you are not getting a purebred and will be adopting from a shelter, go to this site which tells you all about the different breeds and what there temperments and needs are.
http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/index.htm

Then>http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/index.htm>http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/index.htm

Then when you get a mixed breed, you'll have some idea if it's the right one for your lifestyle based on what traits it may have from the mix. Also, don't be afraid to ask shelter staff. They work with these dogs and have an idea of how they may adjust to various situations. There is nothing worse than seeing people get a breed that they have to give to a shelter because it wasn't right for them.
The idiots who got St Bernards because their idiot kids saw Beethovan but they never bothered to find out that the cute little pup grows into a giant eating machine. Then there are the people who want an "Eddie from Frasier" dog but don't bother to find out that they are tough to train and very energetic. We won't even mention the poor Chihuaha's that were put in homes with young, active children because of Taco Belle

Posted: 7/10/04 at 6:44pm

Here are a few other things to consider (along with the aforementioned traits):
1. shedding... this was the main reason why we could not adopt from a shelter (although we really wanted to, but we are so allergic).
2. portability- we are running into a problem w/ travel b/c we would love to take our boy with us on flights, but I will not put him under the plane (he's so sensitive and a flight would truly traumatize him).

We ended up with a Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier (Simba) who is a wonderful dog. He does not shed and was very easy to train (smart little boy).

Re: labradoodle- they are great dogs too! Everyone always asks if Simba is a labradoodle. I am worried that the high demand for these designer dogs will lead to inbreeding and subsequent health problems. Mixed dogs have reputations of having less health problems than pure breeds (another benefit of a shelter dog), but the demand for the labradoodles may introduce similar health problems as pure breeds.