**Introduction**
1) Will this be your first dog? If not, what experience do you have owning/training dogs?
No, it will not be my first. I've owned 3 dogs throughout my life (38 years) but they all have passed due to health issues.
2) Do you have a preference for rescuing a dog vs. going through a [reputable breeder]( http://ownresponsibly.blogspot.com/2011/07/identifying-reputable-breeder.html)?
No. I don't want anyone on here to find me a dog though, I just want to know what breed.
3) Describe your ideal dog.
I don't have much preference about the dog's personality. I just need the dog to love us and be friendly to friends and family (10+ years old) that come over (about once a month. not often). I don't mind if they bark or not when people come to the door as it doesn't happen often. A small/medium sized dog would be preferred due to cuddling. A dog that needs 60-90 minutes or less of playtime is perfect. Additionally, the breed has to have low risk of health problems.
4) What breeds or types of dogs are you interested in and why?
Not any specifically. Just ones that fit my requirements.
5) What sorts of things would you like to train your dog to do?
Simple commands like sit, stay, etc. Maybe a few tricks like spin and what not.
6) Do you want to compete with your dog in a sport (e.g. agility, obedience, rally) or use your dog for a form of work (e.g. hunting, herding, livestock guarding)? If so, how much experience do you have with this work/sport?
No.
**Care Commitments**
7) How long do you want to devote to training, playing with, or otherwise interacting with your dog each day?
Affection would be about 2-4 hours a day. I enjoy relaxing and watching shows/movies in my free time so they can hang out with me while I do that. Training would be about 10-30 minutes a day as I'm not teaching them very extreme things.
8) How long can you exercise your dog each day, on average? What sorts of exercise are you planning to give your dog regularly and does that include using a dog park?
About a hour per day. Inside play would be preferred due to it being super cold in the winter but I'd love to go out with them when it's nice out. There aren't any dog parks around me, but I have 3 acres so they would get tons of running/walking in.
9) How much regular brushing are you willing to do? Are you open to trimming hair, cleaning ears, or doing other grooming at home? If not, would you be willing to pay a professional to do it regularly?
Grooming will be every few days or less. We will be doing all these things at home.
**Personal Preferences**
10) What size dog are you looking for?
Probably a small to medium dog. Fitting into a twin bed with a human or two is ideal.
11) How much shedding, barking, and slobber can you handle?
Shedding - little to none. Prefer none.
Barking - fine. Not constant and knows when to be quiet.
Slobber - fine as long as it's not constant.
12) How important is being able to let your dog off-leash in an unfenced area?
Not IMPORTANT, but would be pretty good as 2 acres are unfenced.
**Dog Personality and Behavior**
13) Do you want a snuggly dog or one that prefers some personal space?
Both. I won't always be home but are willing to cuddle with them half of the time I am home.
14) Would you prefer a dog that wants to do its own thing or one that’s more eager-to-please?
Doesn't matter.
15) How would you prefer your dog to respond to someone knocking on the door or entering your yard? How would you prefer your dog to greet strangers or visitors?
Don't care how they act to random people knocking outside, but friendly or stays away to people welcome into the house.
16) Are you willing to manage a dog that is aggressive to other dogs?
Doesn't matter. Probably won't be around others.
17) Are there any other behaviors you can’t deal with or want to avoid?
Don't think so.
**Lifestyle**
18) How often and how long will the dog be left alone?
My husband stays home all day, mainly in the house so the dog will never be alone but he isn't the hugest fan of dogs so they probably won't be cuddling or playing all day long.
19) What are the dog-related preferences of other people in the house and what will be their involvement in caring for the dog?
I will be the one caring for the dog the most. We have a ten year old boy and a sixteen year old girl. My daughter will help groom and chill with the dog as much, or even more than me.
20) Do you have other pets or are you planning on having other pets? What breed or type of animal are they?
We have fish that are in tall fish tanks. The dog won't be able to mess with them. We are not planning on getting more pets.
21) Will the dog be interacting with children regularly?
No. Occasionally my 10 and 16 year old's friends.
22) Do you rent or plan to rent in the future? If applicable, what breed or weight restrictions are on your current lease?
No. We own a house.
23) What city or country do you live in and are you aware of any laws banning certain breeds?
Close to Detroit, MI, U.S. and I am not.
24) What is the average temperature of a typical summer and winter day where you live?
Summer days are 70 to105 F (21 to 40 C) and winter days are -20 to 50 F (-28 to 10 C)
**Additional Information and Questions**
25) Please provide any additional information you feel may be relevant.
The dog will be a family dog that is typically inside the house. The house stays at 70 F (21 C) most of the time. The dog breed needs to have as few health problems as possible. Budget for the dog is about $200 a month.
26) Feel free to ask any questions below.
1) Will this be your first dog? If not, what experience do you have owning/training dogs?
No, it will not be my first. I've owned 3 dogs throughout my life (38 years) but they all have passed due to health issues.
2) Do you have a preference for rescuing a dog vs. going through a [reputable breeder]( http://ownresponsibly.blogspot.com/2011/07/identifying-reputable-breeder.html)?
No. I don't want anyone on here to find me a dog though, I just want to know what breed.
3) Describe your ideal dog.
I don't have much preference about the dog's personality. I just need the dog to love us and be friendly to friends and family (10+ years old) that come over (about once a month. not often). I don't mind if they bark or not when people come to the door as it doesn't happen often. A small/medium sized dog would be preferred due to cuddling. A dog that needs 60-90 minutes or less of playtime is perfect. Additionally, the breed has to have low risk of health problems.
4) What breeds or types of dogs are you interested in and why?
Not any specifically. Just ones that fit my requirements.
5) What sorts of things would you like to train your dog to do?
Simple commands like sit, stay, etc. Maybe a few tricks like spin and what not.
6) Do you want to compete with your dog in a sport (e.g. agility, obedience, rally) or use your dog for a form of work (e.g. hunting, herding, livestock guarding)? If so, how much experience do you have with this work/sport?
No.
**Care Commitments**
7) How long do you want to devote to training, playing with, or otherwise interacting with your dog each day?
Affection would be about 2-4 hours a day. I enjoy relaxing and watching shows/movies in my free time so they can hang out with me while I do that. Training would be about 10-30 minutes a day as I'm not teaching them very extreme things.
8) How long can you exercise your dog each day, on average? What sorts of exercise are you planning to give your dog regularly and does that include using a dog park?
About a hour per day. Inside play would be preferred due to it being super cold in the winter but I'd love to go out with them when it's nice out. There aren't any dog parks around me, but I have 3 acres so they would get tons of running/walking in.
9) How much regular brushing are you willing to do? Are you open to trimming hair, cleaning ears, or doing other grooming at home? If not, would you be willing to pay a professional to do it regularly?
Grooming will be every few days or less. We will be doing all these things at home.
**Personal Preferences**
10) What size dog are you looking for?
Probably a small to medium dog. Fitting into a twin bed with a human or two is ideal.
11) How much shedding, barking, and slobber can you handle?
Shedding - little to none. Prefer none.
Barking - fine. Not constant and knows when to be quiet.
Slobber - fine as long as it's not constant.
12) How important is being able to let your dog off-leash in an unfenced area?
Not IMPORTANT, but would be pretty good as 2 acres are unfenced.
**Dog Personality and Behavior**
13) Do you want a snuggly dog or one that prefers some personal space?
Both. I won't always be home but are willing to cuddle with them half of the time I am home.
14) Would you prefer a dog that wants to do its own thing or one that’s more eager-to-please?
Doesn't matter.
15) How would you prefer your dog to respond to someone knocking on the door or entering your yard? How would you prefer your dog to greet strangers or visitors?
Don't care how they act to random people knocking outside, but friendly or stays away to people welcome into the house.
16) Are you willing to manage a dog that is aggressive to other dogs?
Doesn't matter. Probably won't be around others.
17) Are there any other behaviors you can’t deal with or want to avoid?
Don't think so.
**Lifestyle**
18) How often and how long will the dog be left alone?
My husband stays home all day, mainly in the house so the dog will never be alone but he isn't the hugest fan of dogs so they probably won't be cuddling or playing all day long.
19) What are the dog-related preferences of other people in the house and what will be their involvement in caring for the dog?
I will be the one caring for the dog the most. We have a ten year old boy and a sixteen year old girl. My daughter will help groom and chill with the dog as much, or even more than me.
20) Do you have other pets or are you planning on having other pets? What breed or type of animal are they?
We have fish that are in tall fish tanks. The dog won't be able to mess with them. We are not planning on getting more pets.
21) Will the dog be interacting with children regularly?
No. Occasionally my 10 and 16 year old's friends.
22) Do you rent or plan to rent in the future? If applicable, what breed or weight restrictions are on your current lease?
No. We own a house.
23) What city or country do you live in and are you aware of any laws banning certain breeds?
Close to Detroit, MI, U.S. and I am not.
24) What is the average temperature of a typical summer and winter day where you live?
Summer days are 70 to105 F (21 to 40 C) and winter days are -20 to 50 F (-28 to 10 C)
**Additional Information and Questions**
25) Please provide any additional information you feel may be relevant.
The dog will be a family dog that is typically inside the house. The house stays at 70 F (21 C) most of the time. The dog breed needs to have as few health problems as possible. Budget for the dog is about $200 a month.
26) Feel free to ask any questions below.
