Tell Me About Adopting a Puppy

[nina]

I want to adopt a puppy...but every website I go to makes me cry. Eventually I get so sad that I can't adopt them all, I just close the sites and get away from the computer. I really don't know what to do. Anyone know of a good pet adoption site that isn't full of stories about puppymills and disfigured and damaged and dying puppies. We already have a shih-tzu...he's still my baby although he's 14 and almost completely blind and deaf. He's a sweetie pie and I lovers him but I know he's not going to be around forever, and he seems to have taken well to my sister's new puppy whenever she brings him around. I know how to take care of dogs. I want a little one...another shih-tzu, or a shih-poo like my sister has which is very smart. Or another mixed breed little dog. Like one of those teddy bear dogs. But those are sooo expensive.

[Spartiate]

Website? Just go to a local animal shelter.

[Sornaensis]

You're best bet is to find a place selling the dog where you can drive and pick it up, check it out, and look at the hard copy papers. Adoption sites can leave a blind spot and you might not get the dog you were looking for or the dog ight have a special condition, etc.

[Oneironaut Zero]

I agree with a local shelter, or even an ad in the paper. You can usually find some good buys from people who just have extra puppies that they aren't sure what to do with. I got my old rottie from an ad in the paper, and he was great. But yeah, before you go to websites and businesses that "specialize" in selling puppies, check out shelters and dog-owners.

[Sornaensis]

That and you want to actually meet the dog

[Clairity]

Nina, look on the web and try to find your local shih-tzu breeder's association/club or even ask your vet for breeder recommendations. I've gotten 5 dogs from breeders who either show or care very much about the quality of the dogs they have. Breeders normally care very much about who adopts their dogs, you can visit and meet the puppy's "parents", they will have references and people you can contact who have purchased their puppies in the past. True they may be expensive but considering this could be a 16+ year investment, you want a dog that has no inherited genetic problems and a good temperment. If you don't want to spend much money, definately find out if there are shih-tzu, etc. "rescue clubs".. they should be more reasonably priced and some rescue clubs will even let you "foster" a dog first to see if you are a good match. Dogs are wonderful.. good luck on your search!

[nina]

Thanks for the advice everyone! I had thought about looking in the paper or looking at breeders, but like you said, they make sure that puppies go to good homes. I'd prefer to rescue a puppy that really needs help. It's just that, you don't find the sort of (adorable little shih-tzu puppy) at a rescue shelter because no one is going to throw that away. Plus I don't think I could handle going to a rescue shelter. I am WAY too sensitive when it comes to animals, and even just seeing them in cages with their own urine and feces makes me depressed.

[NeAvO]

Look here. Or for a more serious search, as others said go down to the local place. Where did you get your current dog? Although this might sound horrible, don't get a rescue dog, they usually come with baggage and have horrible things that affect them such as being left alone could cause them to panic. Unless you're willing to put loads of time into them and making them trust people again.

[nina]

I really am willing to devote alot of time to a puppy and training it. I don't mind getting one that was mistreated, abused, sick, etc. just as long as it isn't still sick to where it would cost me alot on veterinary bills. My parents found our dog from an ad in the newspaper, he came from a good home. He is a pure bred shih-tzu. But along with being pure bred, he also had alot of problems over the years. Lots of ear and eye infections, which is why he is mostly blind and deaf now. And he has back problems, and thyroid problems. He's on meds and steroids. He's really a great dog, but I think I'd rather stray from the pure bred dogs because of all these problems. I'd prefer a mixed breed. Anything with a shih-tzu, pekinese, poodle, etc. I don't think I'll find anything at a shelter because I want a puppy. And I don't mean like 1 year old...I want one that is only a few months at the most. I'll check the paper.

[Clairity]

Nina, if you're looking for a small cute mixed breed.. consider a Malti-Poo (Maltese and Poodle mix). My Malti-Poo Jasmine is only about 6 pounds and I love her to pieces.

[Terrorhawker]

Check the friday ads or something. We got our dog for £250 from there.

[Spartiate]

Check the friday ads or something. We got our dog for £250 from there. Damn, I picked up my cat from outside...

[NeAvO]

Damn, I picked up my cat from outside... I believe that's called stealing/cat napping?.

[Spartiate]

Meh, he would have died had I not.

[nina]

Nina, if you're looking for a small cute mixed breed.. consider a Malti-Poo (Maltese and Poodle mix). My Malti-Poo Jasmine is only about 6 pounds and I love her to pieces. Ohhh yes! I love Malti-Poos! I'd also really love a Peek-a-Poo like my sister has. Look at how freakin adorable he is. (pekinese-poodle) I'm jealous. She paid an arm and a leg for him though.

[Oneironaut Zero]

Hehe. Aww.

[Clairity]

Ohhh yes! I love Malti-Poos! I'd also really love a Peek-a-Poo like my sister has. Look at how freakin adorable he is. (pekinese-poodle) I'm jealous. She paid an arm and a leg for him though. Hims soooo cute!!!!!! Me want him.. yes me do!! (sorry, I resort to baby talk around adorable little dogs and kittens)

[Xox]

Hims soooo cute!!!!!! Me want him.. yes me do!! (sorry, I resort to baby talk around adorable little dogs and kittens) Hehe me too! You should hear me around my rabbit.

[Burns]

Nina, that is great that you want to rescue a dog If you are looking for a shih-tzu, pekinese, or poodle mix, you could call the breed rescues in your area and ask if they have any young pups available. You can search online for the breed rescue information in your area, and then call and email them about what you are looking for, and only actually go to the rescue facility if they have what you are looking for.

[Soldier]

i agree with NeAvO as sad as it is rescued dog's do have a chance of being ill and exactly like NeAvO said my cousin got one of those dogs (hound dog) and it has separation anxiety or in other words cant be left alone or it will tear the house down syndrome. he loves the dog too much to bring it back and is working on fixing its problem but make sure you throughly check out the dog before you adopt or buy.

[nina]

Thanks for the advice Burnsy. I'm kinda stupid about certain things that don't involve the internet. Like...using a phone book. lol. But I'll look and see if I can find some breed rescue info online. I started doing that though and that's what made me so sad. I found a story of this puppy....ok I'm not even going to tell you guys. =( Anyways...who can resist the baby talk with something that freakin adorable? My sister's puppy is Louie...but he usually goes by "ooey ooey ooey bear" or "ittle ooey bear" My sister is an idiot though, she doesn't know anything about properly training a dog and spoils him like crazy. He's the yappiest/whiniest damn thing ever. He'll jump on you and take the food right out of your hand/mouth without a second thought. Very lucky he is so cute. I went to puppy classes with my doggy when he was a puppy so I know a good amount about training and try to train ooey when I watch him for my sister. But my sister says she likes him the way he is. He's just like her, I swear. Prissiest sissiest boy dog ever.

[Burns]

I'm kinda stupid about certain things that don't involve the internet. Like...using a phone book. lol. You can search the online yellow pages I just googled "ohio shih-tzu rescue" and came up with these. Don't know if they're any good though. http://www.shihtzurescueohio.com/ http://www.usshihtzurescue.com/ Unfortunately, I don't think you're going to be able to avoid seeing sad puppy stories no matter what you do... There are far too many sad stories, that's for sure

[Man of Steel]

Phsaw, get a real dog. Not a rat-dog. My sister-in-law paid $400 for a Yorkie-Poo, and that's the dumbest dog I've ever met in my life. She's a yapper, too. In all seriousness, I second the need to see and interact with the puppy before you take him/her home. And I've found most of my dogs in shelters, the majority no more than a day or two away from being euthanized to make room for the newcomers. It's a vicious cycle. You'd be surprised at what kind of dogs you can find at shelters; the best dog I have ever known was a little mixed-breed (mutt), probably with Yorkie and toy poodle along with who knows what else that my sister found at our local shelter. She had just had a litter of puppies, and was not much more than a puppy herself. We called her Mopsy, and she lived to be 14 (I think that's right). A car finally helped her on her way. She had all sorts of ailments by then, though, and couldn't move fast enough to get out of the road. She's buried by the creek now. But it's not just the mutts that you can find at shelters; my sister found a full-breed Briard sheepdog at a shelter as well, damn good dog too. So I'd recommend at least checking your local shelter(s). Who knows what'll catch your eye, and/or heart?

[nina]

Phsaw, get a real dog. Not a rat-dog. That's where I stopped reading your post, sorry.

[Man of Steel]

That's where I stopped reading your post, sorry. Read the rest, silly. I was (mostly) kidding.