I want to adopt/purchase a small puppy

Alright before everyone goes apeshit on me about wanting A) a puppy and a small dog, here are my reasonings:

I have a very small apartment and everyone I know who would be willing to dogsit in the future also has small dogs. I dont like big dogs generally, and grew up in a household full of smallish dogs (under 20lbs, save one golden retriever.) I have had dogs my entire life before moving to NYC and I know what I like and what I feel comfortable owning/caring for.
I would like a puppy because I have owned three rescues in the past, all rescued as adults, and all had SEVERE emotional/behavioral problems ranging from aggression to separation anxiety (to the point that he would bite his paws until he bled/threw up when I left the house, etc.) I have always worked with trainers and vets to alleviate these problems, but I would just really like to get a younger dog so I can start training from scratch.

With all this said-
Anyone have any recommendations of places to adopt a puppy (OR legit breeders that have them for sale [note- this means both breeding parents on-site, papers if possible, the dogs being raised in the house as family members not in pens outside, etc.]) I have NO PROBLEM with mutts or non-purebreds, but I just dont think I can emotionally handle another mentally unstable pet and therefor would like a younger dog.


Anyone?

Look on petfinder. You can add some filters on age and size to the searches, as well as a your area.

I've met lots of really happy, well-adjusted dogs adopted from local (I'm including Jersey) rescue groups. I also know a few that were adopted young 4-6 months that have some issues, but the shelters warned the adopters fully. That will at least get you started. If you know of a breed you like, there's likely a rescue organization specializing in that breed.

Sorry I'm not more specific, but I am a fan of petfinder and breed rescue groups.

Oh, and you could also try going to off-leash tomorrow (it's hits peak around 8/8:30 right now. Enter at 9th near the ballfields and walk north through Long Meadow. You could ask folks with small dogs where they got them--lots of dogs in the park are from breeders so you could get some info from their owners as well as on shelters.

OpossumQueen wrote: Oh, and you could also try going to off-leash tomorrow (it's hits peak around 8/8:30 right now. Enter at 9th near the ballfields and walk north through Long Meadow. You could ask folks with small dogs where they got them--lots of dogs in the park are from breeders so you could get some info from their owners as well as on shelters.

ooh good idea with the off-leash. Thats AM right?

I really admire what rescues do, its just been such a hit or miss experience for me.

Oscar's getting a cousin!!!

We jut adopted a cat from Hope Vet (Infinite Hope) on Atlantic ave. It was a wonderful experience. We found our little lady through Pet finder. Good luck!

http://www.petfinder.com/petnote/displaypet.cgi?petid=13512694

How about this baby crocker spaniel! 13 weeks old.

But all these look like cuties and are still babies!
http://www.petfinder.com/search/search.cgi?pet.Animal=Dog&pet.Breed=&pet.Age=baby&pet.Size=S&pet.Sex=&location=11217

Mamacita wrote: http://www.petfinder.com/petnote/displaypet.cgi?petid=13512694

How about this baby crocker spaniel! 13 weeks old.

But all these look like cuties and are still babies!
http://www.petfinder.com/search/search.cgi?pet.Animal=Dog&pet.Breed=&pet.Age=baby&pet.Size=S&pet.Sex=&location=11217

Nope. They're retarded, destructive dogs. I am making it my mission to find a puppy for Oscar! I mean, Carmen!

^^ you're crazy, but we still love you.

I say carmen gets a baby bull dog they are so freaking cute as babies.

I put in an application for this little lady

http://www.petfinder.com/petnote/displaypet.cgi?petid=13506751


but i dont think they're going to accept me since it seems to be mostly families and stuff that adopt from them.

Awww.. he's cute!!

Sean Casey Animal Rescue was really great for us and another friend of mine had a good experience adopting there as well. Its right at the bottom of the park - one stop down on the F I think. We found our dreamy little puppy, were approved, and had her safely at home in 24 hours.

don't get a cocker spaniel.

Get a mutt. Or just walk Dude until you get said mutt.

whynot_31 wrote: don't get a cocker spaniel.

Get a mutt. Or just walk Dude until you get said mutt.

ZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz. Oscar is more fun. And cooler. And cuter.

AM, yes! Most dogs folks are pretty friendly and happy to tell you all about our furry babies. Tomorrow is supposed to be gorgeous which means the parks folks will likely make sure dog's are out at 9am when off-leash ends, so go early. Oh, and you can make it a full morning and stop by the farmer's market on Saturdays.

I also see lots of small dogs in the dog run in Washington/JJ Byrne park, so if you're near there you could always swing by and see if there are dogs to envy.

Good luck with your search!

Anastasia Beaverhausen wrote: [quote=whynot_31]don't get a cocker spaniel.

Get a mutt. Or just walk Dude until you get said mutt.

ZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz. Oscar is more fun. And cooler. And cuter.

Oscar is reported to be an untrained beast.

whynot_31 wrote: [quote=Anastasia Beaverhausen][quote=whynot_31]don't get a cocker spaniel.

Get a mutt. Or just walk Dude until you get said mutt.

ZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz. Oscar is more fun. And cooler. And cuter.

Oscar is reported to be an untrained beast.

So? He's still more fun, cooler and cuter.

some us prefer the refined.

whynot_31 wrote: so us prefer the refined.

Not Mrs. Whynot apparently.

Anastasia Beaverhausen wrote: [quote=whynot_31]so us prefer the refined.

Not Mrs. Whynot apparently.

indeed.

...but she got Dude out of the deal

North Shore Animal League. Jackson and the late, great Phantom were both from there and I know a lot of people who have adopted great dogs from them

My Mom has a gorgeous female Maltese puppy born on Valentine's day. IM me if you would like more details etc..

You might want to enroll a young small dog into reputable obedience school. Some of the smaller dogs, like mini pincher, have anxiety disorders and need intense training to function like "normal" dogs.

Sometimes the Fido website's lost/found page has pups up for adoption. There's a young poodle on their now.

The dogs are local and not necessarily with a group that rarely approves adopters

And this morning there were more dogs in the park than I ever remember seeing!

Oh, website:
http://www.fidobrooklyn.com/rescue/adoption.html

I got my little guy from animal control in the city (East Harlem). They were able to estimate that he was about a year old - and he TOTALLY rocks (one of these days I will figure out how to post a picture and you will experience his cuteness)...

Back to animal control and small dogs - i adopted him at one of those adoption fair things. what they told me at animal control (when I actually went there, also looking for a small dog), was that they couldn't show me the small dogs because they were required to bring a certain number or at least have quite a few small dogs available for adoption at the events. They have events almost every weekend (look on their website), and when I adopted my pooch there were A LOT of young dogs and puppies who were also being adopted.

So, if you have a chance, schlep to one of those fairs - you might just find a pretty rad dog!

Oh, here's the site for April...and there is an event tomorrow:

http://www.nycacc.org/Event_Calendar.html

Good luck with your search!