02-27-2003, 04:05 PM
Bloodhounds are pretty cool, Ladi, but you have to take into consideration that they are "sporting" dogs. Sporting dogs need a "job" big time and they have a huge "prey-drive". They need to satisfy that energy they have. Also, beagles, fox hounds and any sporting dogs like that are big, BIG barkers. Of course, I am just giving you the negatives first. Alot of people successfully have these kinds of dogs even in urban areas and they are quite compatible and have happy lives.
I, personally, would highly recommend a German Shepard for a first dog. They are the "obedience wonders" of the dog world. Of course, you have to be careful where you get one and there are a few different varieties of them these days. Just educate yourself about them and ask questions, questions, questions about the breeding if you go through a breeder. Alot of sick shit goes on out there just to make a quick buck selling puppies. Also, there are Breed Rescue groups for just about every breed these days and these dogs have been screened for behavioral issues already. They will not adopt out a dog that has a questionable tempermant and alot of these dogs are young adults and have already been through the chewing/house-training puppy phase.
Animal shelters are a great way to find a nice mixed breed or any dog, for that matter. Mixed breeds are a healthier dog compared to full breeds and they are highly intelligent. Just make sure you ask a billion questions and try not to fall in love with the first set of puppy eyes you see (that is a hard one...I know). These days, because so much has changed in the training realm of canines, the shelter worker can be a valuable source of information regarding a specific dog waiting to be adopted.
RE: Training - another thing to be extremely scrutinizing about. Just about anybody can set up shop and call themselves a dog trainer these days. Hitting dogs on the nose with a newspaper, rubbing noses in feces, etc. etc. is a thing of the past. Look for somebody that has studied the learning theory and is a member of some type of training organization that uses "positve" methods. It makes a world of difference. Dogs are not humans and what works for people doesn't work for dogs.
holy poop! sorry for the ramble!
uicide:
I, personally, would highly recommend a German Shepard for a first dog. They are the "obedience wonders" of the dog world. Of course, you have to be careful where you get one and there are a few different varieties of them these days. Just educate yourself about them and ask questions, questions, questions about the breeding if you go through a breeder. Alot of sick shit goes on out there just to make a quick buck selling puppies. Also, there are Breed Rescue groups for just about every breed these days and these dogs have been screened for behavioral issues already. They will not adopt out a dog that has a questionable tempermant and alot of these dogs are young adults and have already been through the chewing/house-training puppy phase.
Animal shelters are a great way to find a nice mixed breed or any dog, for that matter. Mixed breeds are a healthier dog compared to full breeds and they are highly intelligent. Just make sure you ask a billion questions and try not to fall in love with the first set of puppy eyes you see (that is a hard one...I know). These days, because so much has changed in the training realm of canines, the shelter worker can be a valuable source of information regarding a specific dog waiting to be adopted.
RE: Training - another thing to be extremely scrutinizing about. Just about anybody can set up shop and call themselves a dog trainer these days. Hitting dogs on the nose with a newspaper, rubbing noses in feces, etc. etc. is a thing of the past. Look for somebody that has studied the learning theory and is a member of some type of training organization that uses "positve" methods. It makes a world of difference. Dogs are not humans and what works for people doesn't work for dogs.
holy poop! sorry for the ramble!
uicide: