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You get a good heeler you will never have a more loyal loving or better dog. But he will need to put the effort in. You will need to be consistent with training and exercise. Yes I’m biased https://i.postimg.cc/DzYmqch1/C8-FF3-E67-8-F02-464-A-9816-882-E440-D1584.jpg View Quote You see them at rodeos all time, they seem to be some sort of official cowboy dog. |
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I've never met one I trusted, I'm sure they are good for whatever family they belong to, but they always seem like they are ready to chew on your ass. View Quote View All Quotes View All Quotes Quoted:
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If you can handle it, a German Shepard Dog is one of the best dogs known to man. I had two when I was a small boy. Best dogs alive in my opinion. OP, get the boy a golden retriever. Best pet animal, period. Buy a very expensive one from a breeder that is fanatic about health testing. They get cancer and have allergies and it takes a LOT of looking to find a good breeder because they are such popular and desirable dogs. |
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Quoted: I've gotten flak more than once in GD for suggesting not getting a working breed unless you plan on working it. Seems silly to get a GSD if you don't want it to patrol, or a bird dog if you don't hunt birds. Most people just want a companion dog, and that's fine, but a cheap mutt is usually the best for that, they tend to be extremely even tempered and usually have fewer late life issues. The few mutts we had the farm weren't good at much other than being friendly, but they lived forever and never had any health problems. View Quote They will do what ever they want if they don't have an alpha in the home. |
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Heelers are amazing dogs. I've had beagles, too. If you're lucky you won't get one with a terribly obnoxious sounding bay. Ask me how I know. I vote heeler.
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Some questions: 1. How much time do you have to devote to grooming, training, and exercising the dog? I know you have kids, but a lot of the responsibility will fall on you. 2. How much noise can you deal with? Some dogs are quiet, but some are yappy and some howl. A lot. 3. How obedient do you want it to be? Some dogs are quick learners and are very biddable. Some are very intelligent but really could not care less about doing as they’re told. 4. What is your budget? You can cheap out, but quality isn’t usually cheap. 5. Is there anything beyond being a child’s companion that you want the dog to do? Hiking, alerting to intruders, rat patrol, obedience or agility work, etc. View Quote |
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I've had a GSD. Way too much work/time for a kid's first dog. You're going to end up with a poor pet and a powerful headache with teeth.
I'd vote for a spaniel type, or Lab mix. Labradoodle ( Lab/poodle/cocker mix) is ideal. Intelligent, no barking, low prey drive, low shedding and easy grooming. |
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Before my wife and I even got married I started talking up GSDs. Her family had always had goldens. Well, two years into marriage, our golden is dead from cancer and she has two GSDs under a year old, all three of them are off right now doing tracking training with their IGP club.
I don't get to interact with the GSDs while they are in training, which is now until they are about 2. I've got my little mutt dog, and I love her, and when I get myself a PET dog, as opposed to these psychotic demon fur ninjas my wife bought, its going to be another Golden. Its going to cost as much as the gsd's though ($2k-$3k). With what we spent on vet bills on Comet in the last couple years of his life, spending a ton up front for a well bred animal is cheap by comparison. |
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I've had a GSD. Way too much work/time for a kid's first dog. You're going to end up with a poor pet and a powerful headache with teeth. I'd vote for a spaniel type, or Lab mix. Labradoodle ( Lab/poodle/cocker mix) is ideal. Intelligent, no barking, low prey drive, low shedding and easy grooming. View Quote And lol at the easy grooming part. Most of the time, they’re grooming nightmares. |
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Just my opinion kids cant raise dogs correctly they take too much effort.
Most parents get a dog "for the kids" but quickly learn it takes an adult to raise them right and before you know it the dog is actually the mom or dads best friend. |
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I've had a GSD. Way too much work/time for a kid's first dog. You're going to end up with a poor pet and a powerful headache with teeth. I'd vote for a spaniel type, or Lab mix. Labradoodle ( Lab/poodle/cocker mix) is ideal. Intelligent, no barking, low prey drive, low shedding and easy grooming. View Quote I’d avoid Heelers as a first time dog, too. Go to a big shelter or a couple of shelters with your list of must-haves, most will be honest and help you out. Aim for a short-hair breed, but also just pay attention to which ones seem to notice your boy or not. Take your time :) |
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I'll go ahead and advise against heelers as a first dog or for a family with kids under ten. While they can be great dogs, you need to know what you're doing and getting yourself into. They are working dogs that need training, exercise and consistent discipline to be happy. Mine is about as gentle as a hand grenade and constantly challenged my authority when he was young. Add to that dog aggression and high prey drive and you have a poor choice for a kid to handle.
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In Texas, do you bird hunt? If yes, obvious answer would be a Labrador Retriever or a German Shorthair Pointer. View Quote |
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Boxer View Quote There is a youtube channel I ran across once that has some good breed descriptions that may help you. They are unbiased and talk about personality traits and all of that. You will be happier with a dog that fits your family, even if I think it is lame. |
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German Shepherd. Super protective, super loyal, lots of energy and fun to play with. He’ll be your boys best friend. i’ve had them since I was a little kid maybe six years old. Some of the few positive memories I have of my childhood were with that dog.
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Mutt is the natural state of dogs. All the various breeds are humans fucking with genetics, often in haphazard ways. That said, if you want a specific personality, there are breeds that have certain tendencies.
First and foremost: DO NOT BUY ON LOOKS. Remember that Jack Russel on Frasier? Everyone thought that dog was so cute and went out and bought them. Well, turns out they’re balls of energy that are difficult for the average dog owner to train and people were trying to get rid of them almost immediately. Take several of the dog breed selector quizzes and see what breeds keep popping up based on the criteria you set forth. Generally speaking, short haired dogs shed the worst. Like a Doberman. One pet and your palms are black. Curly/wavy hair tends to shed less and be more hypoallergenic. Dual coats may middle of the road, but then blow out a couple times a year. |
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German Shepherd. Super protective, super loyal, lots of energy and fun to play with. He’ll be your boys best friend. i’ve had them since I was a little kid maybe six years old. Some of the few positive memories I have of my childhood were with that dog. View Quote The thing with that is wasn't you that trained it that's why you remember super great memories . but agree great breed It will be the OP's dog if he gets a shepherd and he said he wasn't interested in that breed . |
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Boxer. They are pillows for children. Extremely protective. They travel well. A "large" Boxer can get close to 100 lbs. but the average is 50-70 lbs. We are on our second and unfortunately last Boxer due to my age. When our guy passes in a few years I'll be over 70 and I just won't be able to help another one in his time of need as I would then be hopefully over 80 years old. In the mean time I have SOOOOOO much fun with my buddy! He rides on the zero turn with me while I mow. He stays very close to me 24/7. My wife is HIS pillow. He rides on the dash of the Motor Home and just about any other place he sees fit to ride. Boxer hands down.
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Some possible ideas, as the ones you’re looking at all have special considerations Cocker Spaniel. A good bit of grooming involved, daily brushing and grooming appointments. Dogs from good breeders have very sound temperaments and happy-go-lucky natures, but dogs from breeders who don't emphasize temperament in their program can have sketchy, nervous temperaments. https://9b16f79ca967fd0708d1-2713572fef44aa49ec323e813b06d2d9.ssl.cf2.rackcdn.com/1140x_a10-7_cTC/Grant-BKG-1-1550025442.jpg Rat Terrier. Virtually no grooming, great temperaments, always up for adventure, healthy little beasties, smart, and a lot of fun. http://artaukc.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/1cookiez2.jpg Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. One of the larger toy breeds, known for being good with children, smart, and very cuddly. Moderate grooming needs. https://www.dogsnsw.org.au/media/img/BrowseAllBreed/Cavalier-King-Charles-Spaniel.jpg Boston Terrier. Great personalities, usually energetic, lots of fun. Not a lot of grooming, but you do need to pay attention to their eyes. Beware of anyone selling “rare” colors like lilac, chocolate, red, blue, etc. http://img1.wsimg.com/isteam/ip/0505b208-2501-4000-a31f-89bffd4cbda0/56dc2480-53a1-494e-824a-bb588f55070b.jpg View Quote Will want to sleep n the bed with your boy and they take up way more room then a smaller dog should. Check for a rescue as they will already be housebroken and through the worst of the chewing phase. |
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Mutt We'e always had (rescued) mixed breed dogs and with the eception of 1 they have been awsome healthy dogs.
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What does a doodle offer that a poodle doesn’t? And lol at the easy grooming part. Most of the time, they’re grooming nightmares. View Quote View All Quotes View All Quotes Quoted:
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I've had a GSD. Way too much work/time for a kid's first dog. You're going to end up with a poor pet and a powerful headache with teeth. I'd vote for a spaniel type, or Lab mix. Labradoodle ( Lab/poodle/cocker mix) is ideal. Intelligent, no barking, low prey drive, low shedding and easy grooming. And lol at the easy grooming part. Most of the time, they’re grooming nightmares. As far as grooming, give them a puppy cut once every six weeks and keep the ears free of hair... really not a big deal. |
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Golden retriever. The correct answer is always GR.
Lab and standard poodle are also great family dogs. |
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They're (fancy named) mutts. Mutts have better health and temperament than purebred dogs. As far as grooming, give them a puppy cut once every six weeks and keep the ears free of hair... really not a big deal. View Quote View All Quotes View All Quotes Quoted:
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I've had a GSD. Way too much work/time for a kid's first dog. You're going to end up with a poor pet and a powerful headache with teeth. I'd vote for a spaniel type, or Lab mix. Labradoodle ( Lab/poodle/cocker mix) is ideal. Intelligent, no barking, low prey drive, low shedding and easy grooming. And lol at the easy grooming part. Most of the time, they’re grooming nightmares. As far as grooming, give them a puppy cut once every six weeks and keep the ears free of hair... really not a big deal. And doodle coats tend to mat up easier and attract more dirt due to the combination of oily Lab and fluffy long poodle fur, and many groomers refuse to groom them because they are often matted up bitey monsters. |
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There are so many good dog breeds it's hard to narrow it down.
For small dogs, I'm a fan of Pomeranians. They aren't yappy and they're smart, will alert, have big dog personalities. Being small they're a lot less hassle and they don't have huge training requirements. We have a Pom mix atm. For medium dogs there are just too many choices, I've had great luck with Dobermans but they're training intensive. We currently have a rescue whippet and they're much better pets than you'd think, a lot of people recommend them. They need some time chasing a ball but other than that they're very happy as house dogs and IME have excellent manners, you just can't walk them off leash at all until they're older. Labs and retrievers aren't bad, labs tend to take several years to calm down though. Poodles and poodle crosses make great pets. A lot of the aussie/heeler/border/scent hound breeds, any intelligent working breed really, will require a job and a lot of attention to keep them out of trouble, triple that for a Husky. The best dogs are mutts IMO, but you're never sure what you're getting. I would get a mix of a couple breeds that I would consider anyway if possible, especially if you can rescue a dog you like from a pound, or get a puppy where you can meet the parents. |
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May I suggest a Shetland Sheepdog? Otherwise knows as Shelties They are great, loving family dogs. Some are good at obedience and Rally, others are better at warming the sofa ETA: A Video for your enjoyment https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PWxhUiRjWNI View Quote Another great dog for kids is the Staffordshire Bull Terrier, they may look like a small pit bull and they are distantly related, but they are very good with family and kids. They are very strong so they need training, but their temperament is about perfect and very few health issues. |
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I have a lab and a jrt/heeler/who knows mutt.
The mutt is my baby. But she is crazy, not yappy though, hard headed, and smart. Barely listens but knows what you are asking. Slap the training collar on and she good(vibrate mode only) The lab on the other hand. Very well behaved, aims to please, easy to train. Get a lab or a lab mix. The best overall bred known to man. |
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Quoted: They're (fancy named) mutts. Mutts have better health and temperament than purebred dogs. As far as grooming, give them a puppy cut once every six weeks and keep the ears free of hair... really not a big deal. View Quote |
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I would never consider a beagle. All the ones I have known were stubborn and constant barkers.
Heelers are fun dogs but have a lot of energy and so do boxers. I really like my doberman but he is super smart and tests me on a daily basis. Good family dog and great with kids. He was socialized a lot when he was young so now he is protective but will let you into his circle of friends if I let you in. |
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If you want to hate your first dog get a heeler. Mine is an awesome dog for me but she will bite people on the ankles, she whines and barks constantly when she wants to play, she has to go to work, she is super protective, and she is way too smart. They are amazing dogs if you have the time and skill to train them. They will listen amazingly if you constantly keep them honest, if you slip on your discipline and training they will revert to little assholes.
Get a Rottweiler. They are extremely smart, loyal, have no problem being active or lazy, they will protect your house and your children, they are good judges of character, and they all have great personalities. Or do what I did and get both. Rotty vrs. Heeler battle royale |
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I've gotten flak more than once in GD for suggesting not getting a working breed unless you plan on working it. Seems silly to get a GSD if you don't want it to patrol, or a bird dog if you don't hunt birds. Most people just want a companion dog, and that's fine, but a cheap mutt is usually the best for that, they tend to be extremely even tempered and usually have fewer late life issues. The few mutts we had the farm weren't good at much other than being friendly, but they lived forever and never had any health problems. View Quote View All Quotes View All Quotes Quoted:
Quoted: 5. Is there anything beyond being a child’s companion that you want the dog to do? Hiking, alerting to intruders, rat patrol, obedience or agility work, etc. Seems silly to get a GSD if you don't want it to patrol, or a bird dog if you don't hunt birds. Most people just want a companion dog, and that's fine, but a cheap mutt is usually the best for that, they tend to be extremely even tempered and usually have fewer late life issues. The few mutts we had the farm weren't good at much other than being friendly, but they lived forever and never had any health problems. Don't get a Heeler, Aussie, or Border Collie if you don't intend to exercise it often, and I don't mean occasionally going for a walk. Those dogs thrive on activity. Beagles are a less extreme version of this. Mine does some chewing when he gets bored, but that's my fault. I'm a single guy that works long hours, though. I think my beagle would do better if someone was home more often interacting with him. The temperament of the beagle is pretty awesome, though. They are extremely friendly and loving dogs, and I'm not sure if they're even capable of aggression. They are also one of the healthiest breeds. |
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Some questions: 1. How much time do you have to devote to grooming, training, and exercising the dog? I know you have kids, but a lot of the responsibility will fall on you. 2. How much noise can you deal with? Some dogs are quiet, but some are yappy and some howl. A lot. 3. How obedient do you want it to be? Some dogs are quick learners and are very biddable. Some are very intelligent but really could not care less about doing as they’re told. 4. What is your budget? You can cheap out, but quality isn’t usually cheap. 5. Is there anything beyond being a child’s companion that you want the dog to do? Hiking, alerting to intruders, rat patrol, obedience or agility work, etc. View Quote 1) We have a good amount of time actually. Oldest is in Baseball and has practice/games a few times a week. Other than that we don't have a lot going on. 2) I expect some noise, but I don't want a little dog who barks at every.stinking.thing either. 3) I also don't expect to have a super highly trained dog. Sit, stay, come, play with a ball or something. He won't be enrolled in weekly classes if that's what you're asking. 4) I was thinking ~$300. Most of the Blue Heelers and Beagles in the area are around there. No $1k Australian royalty bloodline needed. 5) Playing fetch/ball, maybe a frisbee, let us know when someone is here. Just usually dog stuff. Honestly, I had a cocker spaniel when I was a kid. We taught her to sit, roll over, stay, and we did a lot of playing in the yard. I think that's what they need. I don't think we'll be skiing a lot of a dog. Just being a good family pet the kids can grow up with. I'm sure a stray would probably be just fine for my needs but I'd prefer something more. |
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Some possible ideas, as the ones you’re looking at all have special considerations Cocker Spaniel. A good bit of grooming involved, daily brushing and grooming appointments. Dogs from good breeders have very sound temperaments and happy-go-lucky natures, but dogs from breeders who don't emphasize temperament in their program can have sketchy, nervous temperaments. https://9b16f79ca967fd0708d1-2713572fef44aa49ec323e813b06d2d9.ssl.cf2.rackcdn.com/1140x_a10-7_cTC/Grant-BKG-1-1550025442.jpg Rat Terrier. Virtually no grooming, great temperaments, always up for adventure, healthy little beasties, smart, and a lot of fun. http://artaukc.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/1cookiez2.jpg Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. One of the larger toy breeds, known for being good with children, smart, and very cuddly. Moderate grooming needs. https://www.dogsnsw.org.au/media/img/BrowseAllBreed/Cavalier-King-Charles-Spaniel.jpg Boston Terrier. Great personalities, usually energetic, lots of fun. Not a lot of grooming, but you do need to pay attention to their eyes. Beware of anyone selling “rare” colors like lilac, chocolate, red, blue, etc. http://img1.wsimg.com/isteam/ip/0505b208-2501-4000-a31f-89bffd4cbda0/56dc2480-53a1-494e-824a-bb588f55070b.jpg View Quote That and the pug are among the best couch potato breeds I've been around. |
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They're (fancy named) mutts. Mutts have better health and temperament than purebred dogs. As far as grooming, give them a puppy cut once every six weeks and keep the ears free of hair... really not a big deal. View Quote View All Quotes View All Quotes Quoted:
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I've had a GSD. Way too much work/time for a kid's first dog. You're going to end up with a poor pet and a powerful headache with teeth. I'd vote for a spaniel type, or Lab mix. Labradoodle ( Lab/poodle/cocker mix) is ideal. Intelligent, no barking, low prey drive, low shedding and easy grooming. And lol at the easy grooming part. Most of the time, they’re grooming nightmares. As far as grooming, give them a puppy cut once every six weeks and keep the ears free of hair... really not a big deal. The designer breeds these days started as “fancy mutts”. You’d take a poodle and a Labrador and make a labradoodle. But now people aren’t doing that. They’re taking a labradoodle and breeding it with a labradoodle. They haven’t been around long enough to create a deep gene pool, so they’re creating problems. Then, poodles aren’t necessarily know for their great personality. So the idea was to breed the lab personality with the poodle hypoallergenic coat. Unfortunately, the lab personality doesn’t necessarily come out. So yes, mutts generally have well rounded personality and health. But don’t think the “-doodles” fall into that. |
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Sorry, don't like little dogs.
German shepherd or go home. Your son will thank you later. |
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So many choices
Healer Standard schnauzer Golden Etc etc Many are good choices to be a boy's best friend. |
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What does a doodle offer that a poodle doesn’t? And lol at the easy grooming part. Most of the time, they’re grooming nightmares. View Quote Quoted:
I'll go ahead and advise against heelers as a first dog or for a family with kids under ten. While they can be great dogs, you need to know what you're doing and getting yourself into. They are working dogs that need training, exercise and consistent discipline to be happy. Mine is about as gentle as a hand grenade and constantly challenged my authority when he was young. Add to that dog aggression and high prey drive and you have a poor choice for a kid to handle. View Quote Quoted:
Labrador or Golden Retriever. Or like my designer dog - a 50/50 mix of both, a Goldador! https://a4.pbase.com/o10/72/325172/1/165389157.dgrMi8os.OsaLakeTrailT.jpg View Quote |
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@Naamah It seems a few have asked these questions so I'm try and answer. 1) We have a good amount of time actually. Oldest is in Baseball and has practice/games a few times a week. Other than that we don't have a lot going on. 2) I expect some noise, but I don't want a little dog who barks at every.stinking.thing either. 3) I also don't expect to have a super highly trained dog. Sit, stay, come, play with a ball or something. He won't be enrolled in weekly classes if that's what you're asking. 4) I was thinking ~$300. Most of the Blue Heelers and Beagles in the area are around there. No $1k Australian royalty bloodline needed. 5) Playing fetch/ball, maybe a frisbee, let us know when someone is here. Just usually dog stuff. Honestly, I had a cocker spaniel when I was a kid. We taught her to sit, roll over, stay, and we did a lot of playing in the yard. I think that's what they need. I don't think we'll be skiing a lot of a dog. Just being a good family pet the kids can grow up with. I'm sure a stray would probably be just fine for my needs but I'd prefer something more. View Quote View All Quotes View All Quotes Quoted:
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Some questions: 1. How much time do you have to devote to grooming, training, and exercising the dog? I know you have kids, but a lot of the responsibility will fall on you. 2. How much noise can you deal with? Some dogs are quiet, but some are yappy and some howl. A lot. 3. How obedient do you want it to be? Some dogs are quick learners and are very biddable. Some are very intelligent but really could not care less about doing as they’re told. 4. What is your budget? You can cheap out, but quality isn’t usually cheap. 5. Is there anything beyond being a child’s companion that you want the dog to do? Hiking, alerting to intruders, rat patrol, obedience or agility work, etc. 1) We have a good amount of time actually. Oldest is in Baseball and has practice/games a few times a week. Other than that we don't have a lot going on. 2) I expect some noise, but I don't want a little dog who barks at every.stinking.thing either. 3) I also don't expect to have a super highly trained dog. Sit, stay, come, play with a ball or something. He won't be enrolled in weekly classes if that's what you're asking. 4) I was thinking ~$300. Most of the Blue Heelers and Beagles in the area are around there. No $1k Australian royalty bloodline needed. 5) Playing fetch/ball, maybe a frisbee, let us know when someone is here. Just usually dog stuff. Honestly, I had a cocker spaniel when I was a kid. We taught her to sit, roll over, stay, and we did a lot of playing in the yard. I think that's what they need. I don't think we'll be skiing a lot of a dog. Just being a good family pet the kids can grow up with. I'm sure a stray would probably be just fine for my needs but I'd prefer something more. I can do some looking if you figure out what you’d like. |
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