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Kokadrille
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![](https://pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=https://rightpet.com/Thumbnail/BreedReviewsPhotos/742016_18573663327248DogBreed_mox.jpg&media=https://rightpet.com/Thumbnail/BreedReviewsPhotos/742016_18573663327248DogBreed_mox.jpg&description=Moxie came through a shelter I started working at when I moved to Denver. She looked awful. Her fur was patchy, almost entirely missing around her throat, she was frighteningly thin and had an infected leg. She was very handshy and spent most of her time in the corner shaking. She didn't trust anyone, and she barked the second you left her alone.<br><br>We decided to foster Moxie early because she wouldn't be able to handle the stress of shelter life, even if it was just a few weeks. I took her in personally, and she lived with me and my Shiba Inu for about six months. Most likely due to my dog's young age, she took to him immediately, and mothered him constantly. It's very possible that Moxie was a mill dog or had had a litter of her own at one point. Normally, shepherds tend to be somewhat aloof with other dogs, but the ones they make friends with, they'll remember forever. Moxie wasn't a particularly outgoing dog, but she bonded with my Shiba and regarded him as her own puppy, and the two of them were pretty inseparable while she stayed with us.<br><br>Moxie, like most German shepherds, was eager to please. Despite being older and having no real training from her previous owner, she learned her basic commands pretty quickly. Having exposure to another dog really calmed her separation anxiety and her barking issue diminished even if it never went away completely.<br><br>German Shepherds bond very closely with a few key people, their pack. This kind of diehard loyalty is what makes them ideal for service work, and one of the most adoptable breeds. Older Shepherds are pretty easy rescue dogs; even if you don't know what you're doing, a German shepherd is there for you. By nature they need a person to bond to, and once you show them kindness, that person will be you. Some breeds of dog I'd recommend getting young, as bad habits or experiences are hard to unlearn, but in this case, I'd tend to say the opposite. An older German shepherd is calmer and they're so ready to please that you can train them at almost any age.<br><br>Shepherds are incredibly easy to train, but they do need to work. These are big, active dogs, and without proper exercise and socialization, shepherds will run amok, no matter how much they love you. Some of the most common owner surrender reasons I got were that the dog was "too much work", that they chased cars, dug holes or were otherwise destructive. These are all indications of a dog that simply needed to get out more. Moxie was six and pretty calm, and they do tend to mellow with age. No matter how old they are, once you get a shepherd going, they'll be as playful as they can. They can also be very mouthy dogs, and their herding instinct may cause them to nip when thy play. Address it early and consistently and they'll learn what you want and adapt.<br><br>The only downside to German Shepherds that I could really say is their insane amount of shedding. Personally I struggle with the upkeep of a normal amount of shedding, but Shepherds will shed all over the place, and they need to be bathed on a regular basis to avoid the dreaded "doggie smell."<br><br> German Shepherds love to play, either with you, other dogs, or their favorite toys. Be watchful with toys, though, as these dogs tend to be very territorial over their posessions or food. Moxie was adopted by a family up the street from us, and we still dog sit her occasionally, since she's become my dog's adoptive mother.){kind=link}
![](https://pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=https://rightpet.com/Thumbnail/BreedReviewsPhotos/642016_19321770527248DogBreed_cihuahua.jpg&media=https://rightpet.com/Thumbnail/BreedReviewsPhotos/642016_19321770527248DogBreed_cihuahua.jpg&description=Chihuahuas have a reputation for being yappy little ankle-biters, and it's not uncommon that they live up to that reputation.<br><br>Regardless, this could be one of the best starter dogs for the right person. It's also one of few dog breeds I highly recommend adopting; if you're patient, they're easy to train, they're small and more adaptable than people give them credit for. <br><br>One of my favorite fosters was AJ, a "Deer-Faced" (Long head, not round faced) Chihuahua. AJ was a Christmas present gone awry. If you have young children, these puppies may be too fragile. They're attached to their people and are always close by; an enthusiastic child could easily hurt a chihuahua unintentionally, which is ultimately why AJ was brought to our shelter; his owners feared their toddler would accidentally break the four pound dog.<br><br>Because he was relatively young, AJ responded well to training. Chihuahuas are one of the most cuddly breeds available, and they want to be with you for everything. They are eager to please but often have strange personality quirks (AJ was left-pawed and refused to shake or step forward with his right foot) that may make total obedience a tough road. The older the Chihuahua, the more set in their ways they become. No dog I worked with has ever been hopeless, they just require more patience and time on your part to figure out what you want from them.<br><br>These dogs are definitely yappers and require more desensitivity training to stop them from sounding the alarm at pretty much everything. Desensitivity training usually involves doing things like opening umbrellas near your dog, opening and shutting doors with them at various volumes, etc, so they can get used to a variety of noises and learn not to sound the alarm constantly. AJ was never going to be a quiet dog, but with training he learned to get used to enough noises so that our neighors wouldn't complain.<br><br>This kind of training is also critical for nipping. Chihuahuas are small, and even though they act big and tough, they're almost always on the defensive. AJ was rarely nippy because he received a lot of exposure training so young and was usually good with people and big, gentle dogs that understood how little he was. He did not do well with cats or small animals though, as his defensive nature made him "strike first" with anything even remotely similar in size. <br><br>Chihuahuas get cold easily, so consider your climate when thinking about getting one. Housebreaking AJ was tough only because it was winter time in Colorado and it was simply too cold for him to be outside and poop. He was pad trained very easily though and relatively fastidious about it. Because of their sensitivity to the cold, you need to be aware and vigilant with potty training even in the summer months, so your poor dog can relieve himself in the winter. Chihuahuas are also one of the easiest dogs to put a sweater on; they seem pretty aware of their delicate disposition and usually won't fight any extra warmth.<br><br>Chihuahuas don't require much exercise or space, and despite their desire to be near you didn't exhibit the separation anxiety I experienced with other breeds. Usually if you leave them alone with a few toys and a comfortable place to sleep, they won't cause you any real headaches. When you are home, they'll want to be with you the entire time. They don't have any major grooming requirements, and while their health varies greatly depending on their breeding, mixed breeds are pretty hardy until the later years of their life.<br><br>If you're looking to get a dog, but you don't have the time commitment or space needed for a large breed, Chihuahuas have the spunk and tenacity to be your pint sized puppy with big dog bravado.){kind=link}
![](https://pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=https://rightpet.com/Thumbnail/BreedReviewsPhotos/642016_19282479827248DogBreed_linus.jpg&media=https://rightpet.com/Thumbnail/BreedReviewsPhotos/642016_19282479827248DogBreed_linus.jpg&description=American Pit Bull Terriers have one of the most dangerous reputations of any dog, and they're even illegal in some cities. Generally, if you hear of a dog attack, the aggressor is referred to as a "pit bull", almost regardless of what breed was involved. It's not surprising, the wide jaws and body of almost pure muscle looks intimidating. <br><br>When Denver passed a law to ban pit bulls, the shelters of surrounding cities became filled with loving, well trained dogs whose owners had to give up in order to keep them safe when the first waves legislation passed. Many owners feared for the safety of their dog and didn't think they'd be able to move in time, so they were forced to give up their furry friends.<br><br>One of my favorite Pitties to come through our shelter was named Linus. He was 100 pounds of muscle, with cropped ears (which I definitely don't condone) and looked like a fighter. When I first walked into the kennels, Linus was sitting quietly in the corner, looking out the window. I walked into his kennel and when he approached me, he jumped up. For a few seconds, I have to admit I was a little nervous that I could be wrong about these docile dogs, as he coud knock me over and overpower me in a heartbeat. As it turns out though, Linus was just giving a big bear hug to the first person he got to hang out with that day; he was lonely since he'd been removed from what was probably a very good home. He never jumped up after that, either, although he was the first on the couch to put his paw around you in a big, sweeping bear hug. <br><br>Linus was well trained so I didn't have to put any effort into it. He walked well on leash, knew his basic commands and was great with other dogs. Other pit bulls I worked with were always easily trained because they're so eager to please. Socialization is important as soon as possible to get them used to other dogs and new situations, but no more so than any other dog. If they aren't properly exposed to dogs, they can develop dog aggression, and as a general rule I wouldn't trust them around small animals; the terrier in them has a strong prey drive. With the exception of happy tail, they're very hardy dogs and aren't prone to many health problems, though I'd occasionally see some eye problems in some older pits that passed through the shelter. Pit Bulls also have incredibly maternal instincts (male or female!) and love taking care of and nurturing their family. Because they're so sturdy, they can handle an excitable child very well and don't startle easily, which makes them surprisingly great nannies. <br><br>Not only are pit bulls the last to attack, they're the first to say they're sorry. Pit Bulls are goof balls and love your attention, and they'll do anything in their considerable power to make you laugh. Any damage they'll do to you would most likely caused by an over exuberant "happy tail" which can actually become a medical condition if you're not careful and let it get infected. The likelihood your pit bull will use its mouth for anything besides sloppy kisses is very slim.<br>One of the most common mixed breeds I'd see were PIt Bull/Labrador mixes, and while they aren't any more dangerous, they have a tendency to carry a lab's exuberance and hyperactivity in combination with the Pittie's signature wrestler physique, and that mix in particular can be a little clumsier and require a little more in terms of training and exercise. Lab mixes might be a slightly more challenging pit bull mix, but all in all any Pittie you get will be a great starter dog.<br><br>It took Linus a little longer to get adopted than most dogs at our shelter simply because he looked so scary, even though he was gentle, house broken, loving, and all in all a model dog. Getting a rescue dog comes with challenges, as many tend to be abused and develop issues that can make them hard to deal with. Pit bulls are one of few breeds that can readjust, adapt, and fall in love with their new family no matter where they came from. Even if you get an older pit bull, they're likely to respond to training as long as they get enough love and exercise.){kind=link}