Dog Rescues

[Soybean]

So if things go the way we want, I might be getting a new job, which means we can save up, get out of this apartment and start renting a house. Now this is not a definite thing, but its a maybe right now. If so, we are wanting to get another dog. (We both really really really want a big dog). Now, if we get a rental house that allows us to get another dog (if not, then we simply don't get another dog.) then we want to get a big dog. We are interested in specific breeds, but we would really like to get a puppy, but at the same time, we want to rescue. So is it possible to get a puppy (so that we can raise the puppy around our cats and small dog) at a rescue?

We live in Virginia and are willing to drive just about anywhere for the right dog. We are interested in the following breeds:

Great Dane
Doberman
Boxer
Pit Bull
Rottweiler

We are not sure which breed fits our lifestyle the most right now, but we are still in the research stage. If life does start to fall the way it has a 50/50 chance of falling right now, then we want to start our research on breeds, rescues, and breeders now rather than later.

[Moo]

Try petfinder.com

You can put in your location and breeds that you are interested in. Then you (and existing dog) can go meet the dogs in your area that interest you.

[Bclover92]

There are TONS of pits in your area (I am in a similar area). All ages and sizes. Along with other breeds you like too.
Pits: http://www.petfinder.com/search/sear...location=21901
Boxers: http://www.petfinder.com/search/sear...location=21901
Great Danes: http://www.petfinder.com/search/sear...ge=baby&size=L
Dobies: http://www.petfinder.com/search/sear...ge=baby&size=L
Rottie: http://www.petfinder.com/search/sear...location=21901

[GSDNewbie]

Renting a home will be very difficult to allow all but almost one breed on that list. I would say you would first need to rent a home that allows them and fgor lil while to be sure it will be a stable place for long term and that you wont have to move and give the dog up before trying to get one of these breeds as a renter. When I teransfered up here I had to rent while home searching. I owned one home in va beach beach outright, no credit issues but had no renter refrences because weve own homes for years. The places did not allow dogs and I had three rottweilers at the time of the move. Two were current search and rescue dogs one was retired. One I sent to work with a friend and live with her still doing the work. Renting a home that allowed dogsis a challange in itself but doing so with these breeds is another ball park. I finally with their credentials as CGC and sar certified dogs, papers in hand got a home that allowed them.

[RoughCollies]

It's very easy to find pit bull puppies in rescues. Other breeds do come up occasionally and depending on your area, it might not be hard to find one.

[FairyDogMother]

Are you looking for pure bred or mixes? It's harder but not impossible to find most of those in little puppy pure bred form.
I have 2 Danes in right now, a 9 mos old and 3 yr old both pure breds.
I also have 12 - 4-1/2 week old 3/4 boxer 1/4 lab puppies.
The only one that's quite easy to pick and chose from in a baby as a pure bred it the APBT on your list. At least here anyway.

[saluki-sue]

In some cases like when small animals are already in the home it's not a bad idea to meet a few adult dogs as well. Adult dogs are an open book, the foster home will know how they are right now with small dogs and cats. They will know how the dog is with children,men, strangers in general. So don't discount an adult dog, you'll also have more choices that way.

With a puppy, their personality is a 50/50 shot. You can raise a puppy with other animals and still have aggression problems. In very few cases with a rescue pup will you get to meet the mom or dad. So you don't know what traits they got from them and you won't know what their going to grow in to.

Keep your options open, you'd be surprised at the wonderful young adult dogs in the rescues who need homes and would be a perfect fit in your family.

Good luck