Puppy Buying Advice (Good breed for first dog?)

[FLA]

For a first time dog owner, I strongly recommend adopting an adult dog from a reputable rescue group that places dogs in private foster homes or small "group home" type situations. .

Exactly everything in this post. My shelter dogs that were older were the easiest to train, were already housebroken and were on death row. And turned out to be the dogs I loved the most.

Once I bought a pure bred puppy, a mini-dachshund because I had a patient with one and over the course of a year, I fell in love with it. Well, Mitch turned out to be 11 yrs of a LOT of work. His mom was run over while pregnant, he was the only surviving pup, she lived as well. I got the Because He Was Run Over By a Cadillac in Utero discount, he was $300. Cute, sweet, lovable dog, adored kids but I'd never had a puppy before and it started to seem like he was taking forever to house train. The vet said he was likely brain damaged, because he literally never learned anything except his name. Why I bought a run over puppy is beyond me, one could assume there may be issues with his 8 lb mom's pups vs the Caddie. So incontinence was a problem for 11 years. I managed it but it was a frustrating, huge PITA and I decided never a pure bred or even shelter puppy again. Older shelter dogs are my speed.

if you insist on a pure bred, I have a Cavalier King Charles spaniel I adopted from my friend's mom, she was too old to care for him. They are notorious for being social and cuddly, they beg for attention, love kids, other animals. Mine follows me around and when I stand still he paws at my leg because he has to have that attention. He is really a great dog BUT he is expensive. The long flow-y coat requires grooming at $56 a shot, 5 times what I pay for my hair, lol. I didn't think about that, but I still would've taken him. I have him shaved in the summer so I can go longer between sessions. I was walking him out of PetSmart and a woman with one of the smaller ones walked by. She turned around and yelled at me for having him shaved, if I don't know the value of such a beautiful breed, then I should not have one. She is why I like mutts! And the value of his beauty? He's neutered, he's not going to spawn the next winner of the Westminster Dog Show. I was so shocked, who are these people? She's calling me out and she's pushing her dog in a freaking stroller!

good luck, and one more shameless plug for a bit older shelter dog