Are you thinking about getting your first dog? How Exciting! Here are three important considerations:
1. Be sure to choose a dog that’s right for your lifestyle.
Once when I was walking my dogs, a woman stopped as she was driving by to speak with me.
“I’ve been seeing you out and about with your dogs, and they’re so cute!” she called. She was referring to the way they pranced alongside my red mobility scooter, which I, too, thought was pretty dashing. “In fact, you’ve inspired me to get another dog, and at my age!” she told me. She was 80, she said, and had recently gotten a Cattle Dog puppy.
“I love him,” she exclaimed. “The only thing is, my hands and arms are covered with bites, and I have a little trouble controlling him on walks. But I’m sure we’ll figure it out.”
I never saw her again.
2. It’s important that everyone in the household is in agreement about getting a dog before you bring one home.
“I can’t think of a stretch of time when I didn’t have a dog,” says Peter Pronk, Cherished Tails foster. “The first personal dog I had was when I was 16 years old and I went to the pound in Boulder, Colorado, and adopted a little Beagle mix. I didn’t tell my parents ahead of time, I just came home and said ‘Mom, look what I have!’
“We had cats. The cats all started hissing, and my mom just went ‘Oh (bleep)!’ She and my dad both grew to love the dog, and kept him when I moved out when I was 19.”
Peter went on to be a lifelong dog rescuer, and he and his wife Donna have fostered hundreds of dogs for Cherished Tails and other rescues.



3. Always do thorough research and consult with experts before bringing home a new pet.
“We took a Boston Terrier from her niece when Glynnis and I first met,” recalls Joseph Stone. “This was a dog they had paid thousands of dollars for, a purebred. They didn’t like his attitude, so they gave up on him. It amazes me that’s where people are with this. They just decide they don’t want to do it, even after spending thousands of dollars. It astounds me.”
Since then, Glynnis and Joseph have rescued and fostered hundreds of dogs.
What’s My Point?
Those are certainly valid considerations, and the world would be a better place if more people paid attention to them. But a dog doesn’t always have the luxury of choosing when it’s going to need a soft landing. Practically never, in fact.
Consider adopting your first dog from a rescue! It may not be the Mastiffoodle you’ve been dreaming of, but there are advantages. The dog has been living in a loving home, for one thing, and not in a crate at the mall pet store.
“We’re at a place now where people are breeding dogs for colors and looks, and not necessarily for temperament,” says Nicolette Brown, former Pima Animal Care Center employee. “Then people start having major behavioral issues with their dog as they get older and they don’t want to deal with it, so they end up taking it to the shelter.”
A foster with a reputable rescue will not only fill you in on a dog’s disposition, but it’s diet, toy preferences, napping proclivities and quirks. A dog adopted through Cherished Tails will be microchipped, medically sound, up to date on dental, and spayed/neutered. Also, the foster will love it if you send them holiday photos of your new family member! Once cherished, always cherished.
They’ll also be able to give you informed advice about a good starter dog for you and your situation.
Still, it’s fair to say that most families probably aren’t really thinking about the big picture when they decide to get a dog.
“From what I have seen from my friends, whether they’ve chosen to adopt or buy from a breeder, they’re just looking for something that fits what they want,”says foster Jennifer Sutton. “It’s a fun and exciting time for them to add to their family vs. doing it to help the overpopulation crisis.”
Some people have strong breed preferences, as well.
“I know people want purebred dogs, but you can find ones that have been put up for adoption, or have been abandoned. Just keep looking. Go to rescue organizations and keep looking.” That advice comes from Linda Elmquist, founder of the Southwest Hairless Rescue. “The big thing I would say to the public about rescue is don’t buy dogs!”
Ultimately, the best starter dog is one that fits with you and your lifestyle. Learning about the characteristics of different breeds before you adopt will be helpful, of course, even if you’re taking in a mixed breed. Although there are varying opinions about whether buying a dog is okay or not, depending on circumstances, there does seem to be a rock-solid bottom line among dog rescuers:
Never buy a dog from a puppy mill.
Don’t buy from a backyard breeder.
Do not buy a puppy from a pet store, it’s from a puppy mill.
Most definitely skip the guy selling puppies from the back of his van in a grocery store parking lot.
All the Wrong Boxes
My own starter dog would not have made it past a checklist of good pets for first-time owners. Dancer was a 100 lb. German Shepherd/St. Bernard mix with a sweet disposition around people and a strong prey drive. I snatched her up as she was being carried into the Milwaukee pound for surrender at 12 weeks old, and at my age of 21, I was confident that my experience with the family Dachshund had prepared me for the very large dog she would grow into. The fact that I lived in a small house on a busy street with three roommates and no yard didn’t seem like a problem.
Occasionally, the St. Bernard makes it onto a list of “10 Best Dogs For First-time Owners”, but the Bernese Mountain dog is more common. The German Shepherd, on the other hand, never seems to make that list, although it’s a frequent flyer on “Best Guard Dogs”.
Honestly, it was Dancer who made it work. There were some bumps, to be sure, like the time she killed a chicken when we were visiting a friend’s farm, but the mistakes made were mine and not the dog’s. My friend forgave us, fortunately, and the next time we dropped by there was an electric fence around the coop. Dancer lived to the ripe old age of 12, and I’m still talking about her, even though that was decades ago. She had a lot to teach me about dogs, and she was the perfect starter for me!
Go Off-script
The point is, there are lots of wonderful dogs waiting to be rescued, and one of them is perfect for you. My best advice? Take a minute to check out your local rescues online before you buy or go to the shelter! The rest is negotiable.
🐾
Adoptable Dog of the Week: Evelyn!
Chihuahua/Dachshund Mix
Adult
Female
Small
Gray / Blue / Silver, Merle (Blue)
About
CHARACTERISTICS: Affectionate, Couch, Dignified, Playful, Quiet, Protective, Gentle, Loyal, Loves
COAT LENGTH: Short
HOUSE-TRAINED: Yes
HEALTH: Vaccinations up to date, spayed / neutered.
GOOD IN A HOME WITH: Other dogs, children.
PREFERS A HOME WITHOUT: Cats.
ADOPTION FEE: $150.00
Meet Evelyn
Evelyn came to us from the Yuma Humane Society in need of some medical. She received bilateral cherry eye repair when she got spayed. She has the prettiest coloring! Evelyn is mostly housebroken with a dog door but may need a little time (and patience) to adjust to a new routine. She is also leash trained, crate trained and gets along well with dogs (no feline friends please). Evelyn is estimated around 5 years old and is around 15lbs. She is very sweet and is playful once she gets comfortable in her environment, and might do best in a less chaotic home. She can be left free in the home when alone as she has very nice house manners. She loves to cuddle too so is a perfect blend of active and calm.
Great advice and love that pic of you and Dancer!