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Originally Posted by addevo  As others have said, size doesn't determine who will be the alpha dog. In our house, the 4 lb. yorkie thinks he's the boss. Despite a 25 lb Jack Russel terrier mix, a 12 lb Yorkie/Shih tzu mix and two Himalayan cats that are both bigger he is. And the other animals all have accommodated him without an incident. In fact, they play together quite well.
Now I'm going to make my pitch in behalf of rescue dogs. Contrary to popular belief, not all dogs in rescue have health and/or behavior problems. Being an animal lover that you obviously are, you can't imagine giving up a beloved pet, and assume that dogs that end up in shelters or rescues must have something "wrong" with them. But that isn't always the case. Most dogs end up in rescue because of a problem with the owner, not the dog. People underestimate how much time and money a pet requires and realize too late that they aren't up to the task. Other times, it's just unforeseeable changes in circumstances. We recently adopted a 2 year old, happy and healthy 4 lb Yorkie from a local rescue. His prior owner was diagnosed with cancer, and was tearfully surrendered because his owner didn't think she'd be able to take care of him while she herself was undergoing surgery and chemo.
So please at least consider checking into rescues before you buy a puppy from a breeder. With an adult dog, you know what you are getting in terms of personality and size. You will be able to take the new dog for a "test drive" in a controlled environment and can see how they get along. You can basically let your dog choose her OWN playmate and will be more confident that you are getting the right match. |
I totally agree with you! My Pekingese is a rescue that we've only had for a few months. He is the sweetest, most loving, happy-go-lucky, bubbly, fun little guy that I have ever owned!!!
There so many precious furkids in shelters right now because of the economy and owners not financially able to keep them and/or loss of their home.