Puppies for Beginners

I strongly recommend a female Boston Terrier. Female dogs are more docile than males and the Boston is a small, sturdy, intelligent (easy to train), playful, loyal dog. We have a 10 month old and our Boston is excellent with her, even if she inadvertently pulls the dog's ears! The dog was very easy to train because Bostons are very loyal to their owners and want to please them so badly that they will do anything. I even taught our dog to catch frisbees and I'm no dog trainer. A breeder is the best place to get a new dog, but in your case I think a dog that is already housebroken would be best. Dogs in the midwest that are available for adoption are listed at http://www.midwestbtrescue.org/
Good luck!

Go online and look into dog breeds. That way you can determine which small breeds might appeal to you care wise and personality wise.

If you're going to the humane society, chances are you'll find more mixed than pure breeds there. But they sure can be helpful and offer lots of advice for beginners. If you're struggling financially tho, why add to it just now?
Shots can run up, although the last time I vaccinated my dogs I ordered them through a mail order place and did it myself to save the vet clinic fee. Same with the cats. But I haven't done shots on my pets for years. Just my mind set.
I would wait on a puppy. Your son is only three, and when it comes down to it, it'll be you in charge of all the care, and training and watching for if it's sick and needs the vet. Don't get in over your head too quickly.

We have Dachshunds and they are great with our kids (2.5 and 10 months). However, some dachshunds can be mean so I would really recommend a breeder that you have researched. No matter what breed you get I would check out that breeds rescue, they should be able to get you in touch with a reputable breeder, you may be able to get an older dog from the rescue but most of them have serious (i.e. expensive) health problem and/or won't be placed in a home with children. Anyway, the initial cost of a small puppy is probably around $1000. That includes the cost of the puppy, shots and getting it fixed. Males are a little cheaper than females. And the yearly shots are around $150. Hope this helps.

-M.

I think it is great that you want to adopt a pet. The best thing you can do before adopting one, is research. Go to petfinder.com, and on their front page is a link aobut learning mroe before you adopt. On that page is antoher link to choosing the right breed. Usualy there is a ltitle quiz, to help guide you to the right type. Take their categories seriously, they are well researched. For instance, how often can you walk, do you have a fenced in yard, how old are the family members, allergies, etc.After you have given it some real good research, use petfinder to find local shelters keep on looking at their listings. It took me 3 months to find the perfect dog. I love K-9 shelter in Oxford. They really take the time to make sure that the dog you want to adopt is the right dog for your family. I never had to go to Oxford, I saw my dog online, talked to the shelter/foster mom, and picked him up across from Great Lakes Crossing. Feel free to send me a message if you want more info, or need some guidance. I truly feel that the shelters will have the right dog for everyone, you just have to be patient until your dog shows up.

Start with a visit to your local shelter. There are knowledgable people there that can help you to find the right dog. Also, an older dog may be a better bet at this time as you wouldn't have the house training and things to worry about. There are many reasons why people give up dogs, and you may find the perfect match there, and give a much needed home to a very good dog. We recently lost our 16 year old mix breed, who we adopted when he was 9 months old. He was a blessing to our family, and very much loved.
Another benefit is the sterilization comes with the adoption, and the dog will be current on all it's shots. The humane society also runs a veterinary clinic which is very reasonable for the health care of your pet.
Good luck and just remember to not rush into anything, take your time and learn as much as you can before you make a final decision.