New dog!

[PLFXpert 0]

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I wanted to buy a boxer for a long time because I could never find them at shelters. I was lucky enough to find a boxer dedicated rescue and we ended up getting a puppy (1.5) who is wonderful. It's the luck of the draw I guess.

Not really luck of the draw. It's not that difficult to find any pure-bred rescue.

At your basic shelters like The Humane Society or your local Animal Care & Control, you might have to get on a waiting list for a specific breed (labs, golden retrievers, boxers are most popular). This is common and why you rarely see pure-breds in shelters b/c many people want a pure-bred, have an affinity for a specific breed, and thus the dogs are adopted out before they even make it to the adoption area.

HSUS & AC&C are good ideas for people with larger dogs in mind. If you want a specific breed, simply ask about the waiting list. And there's no law that says you can't get on every waiting list of every shelter w/in a 50-mile radius.

For smaller dogs, breed-specific rescue organizations are a great idea. They're everywhere for nearly (if not all) every small-dog breed and also many large-dog breeds. If the rescue is not local, they are typically very accommodating to come to you or meet you half-way. Like a breeder, most are also familiar with temperament & history of the dog and offer advice & help after the adoption as well.

I'm purposefully refraining from going into details about breeder and/or pet store vs. rescue. I believe that discussion would be appropriate for another time & thread.

I think there's a common misconception of shelters and shelter dogs--that everything is "unknown". Sometimes this is true, but in the months we spent visiting various shelters I found it not to be the standard. We knew we had to find a dog that would get along well with the cats--first and foremost. We were pleased to find several dogs available whose card read "likes cats" or something similar. Cruzer's did (He also had a "kennel name" and we changed it immediately.)

Cruzer is 50 pounds. Sabre is 12 pounds. Zoe' is 9 pounds. And both kitties RULE him. This morning the three of them were snuggled up together on the corner of the bed.
Many dogs come from homes that had to relinquish them for whatever reason--and thus they're already trained. And there are many "training boot camps" available for those without the desire to do the training themselves.

I've read a lot of responses here to Chelle about "dogs being priceless" and such--yet they are in fact a commodity for breeders & pet stores. I don't think Chelle's question was out of line, just perhaps more appropriate for another time/thread.

Paint me in a corner, but my color comes back.

[PLFXpert 0]

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Just for you Chelle:

My sister's poodle: $700
My other sister's Akita: $1500
My younger brother has 2 dogs: Soft coated wheaten Terrier; $1800. A Kerry Blue Terrier: $1600.
My older brother: A mutt: $0

I know all those dogs seem politically incorrect (except the mutt), but since they were already born; they deserved a home.

Our mutt cost $120 from the AC&C. Cost covered previous spay/neuter, rabies & other vaccinations. And then another $1k after that for beds, toys, food, bowls, first vet visit (shelter requires you take them w/in one week of adoption), microchipping, etc.

I can attest mutts are no less expensive other than the initial "money down" (Except they do typically have less chance of future medical issues that are common to certain pure-breeds.)

As for your latter comment: It's that sort of thoughtless reasoning & justification that keeps the mill wheels-a-turning.

Paint me in a corner, but my color comes back.

[ChangoLanzao 0]

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BTW, two dogs are easier to care for than one dog.

True. Today I just picked up a girlfriend for my male Boston Terrier. We have a 11yr old Cocker Spaniel, but he was wearing her out. She is already scrappin with him. I took this picture with my cell phone inbetween rounds.