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I've been thinking lately about getting a dog and need some advice.
I don't want to get a puppy for a number of reasons. I also don't want an old dog that's about to die sometime soon.
I would like to get a rescue or maybe a dog that someone needs to find a new home for because they are getting transferred overseas or something.
I want a dog that is already housetrained because I have light carpet and some old oriental rugs that can't really be replaced if they get ruined.
I had a husky before and don't want another one because it's too hot for them here in the summer (she would lay down in the middle of our walks from exhaustion and we only went 2 miles or so) and they shed all over the place.
I don't mind some shedding just not a huge amount.
I was thinking along the lines of a beagle or a bassett hound. Anyone know where I could start looking. I've already tried pet finders and didn't see much that grabbed my attention.
My only hangup with the SPCA route is that you really don't get to know the dog's history much.
With rescues, a lot of times, the dog has been in foster care somewhere so someone can tell you everything you could want to know about it. With an SPCA you don't really get that.
I would research breeds, decide on which breed I wanted, and contact reputable breeders who have adult dogs that need good homes. That way if things don't work out the breeder will take the dog back. But it's less likely things won't work out if you read up on different breeds and know in general what to expect before you get the dog.
There are rescue agents for just about all the major breeds locally, just do a search 'Breed X' rescue and you should find one in the area......
As for your two choices, Beagles are always hyper unless fixed then they become lumps, bassets are very short legged and do not do well with a lot of fast paced activity, may want to check into labs or one of the other middle sized sporting breeds they tend to need lots of exercise...
They are a great breed, I personally love them, but they are not the most active breed in the world, while there stamina is relentless their speed is lethargic.....
My wife wanted one a while back after her Yellow Lab passed, but she still isn't ready for another dog, especially since we still have the Chocolate and Black Labs.....
Well Tom, I'm not much of a runner. I will walk 2-5 miles anytime but I don't run unless something that has a good chance of hurting me is chasing me. SO energy enough for a long walk but not run is ok with me.
As beagles go, a fixed beagle may not be a bad idea. I don't want a dog that will tear my house to shreds if he gets bored when I'm not home just one that I can keep as a companion and that I can play with and walk and such.
My brother has 2 bassett/beagle mixes that he adopted from the SPCA in Summerville 8 or 9 years ago. They were sisters from the same litter (which, btw, he and his wife named Lucy and Ethel LOL)...anyway, they are sweet, well-mannered, were easily housebroken and trained. The downside is that they ALWAYS have a strong odor. These girls go to the vets regularly, are bathed weekly, go to the groomers monthly, and are almost always in the house or backyard. Within 30 minutes of their baths, they have that "outside dog" smell. My sister-in-law is a neat and clean freak and is constantly cleaning and deoderizing the house and this drives her up the wall. They have tried everything on the market and everything the vet and groomer recommended, but unfortunately Lucy and Ethel are just smelly dogs. Everyone in the family loves them to death and tolerates their smell, but because of that I would not have a beagle or basset hound inside.
I have a German Shepherd/terrier mix that I found as a stray 11 years ago and also an Irish Setter/Golden Retriever mix (rescue) and neither of them have any odor whatsoever.
I'm glad you want to adopt a dog who needs a home instead of buying from a breeder or pet store.
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. I've never been so I don't know much about them but I do drive by it.
