Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hello all!
My family and I are seriously thinking about getting a dog. But it'll take a few months to decide on it definately b/c we need to do a lot of research before committing to a family member. One of my neighbors told me that it is impossible to live with fleas when you have a dog. Is this true? I want a dog, but do NOT want fleas living in my home all the time! How do people live with a dog, but without the fleas? I know of flea medications, but they hardly seem like enough to keep the dog flea-free.
Also, this is regarding specific breeds. Which breeds shed the least and which shed the most? I've heard that poodles do not shed at all, but I'm not too sure if this is true.
I'd appreciate your input!! Thank you~

If you currently don't have any dogs or cats in your house, or if you do, they don't have fleas, and the dog you get comes free of fleas, you are not bringing fleas into your house. Fleas don't jump from one animal to another; they prefer to remain on one host in the adult stage, as it is warm and food is always available. The flea eggs, however, fall off, larvae hatch out, living on flea droppings and dog dander, and developing into pupas. When the adults emerge from the cocoon, they look for a host, and will hop on anything warm-blooded that approaches. Dogs and cats are prefered as they have a higher body temperature, and fur. So, if you don't take your dog visiting households with flea-infested dogs or cats, and don't invite those animals into your house, your dog will likely remain free of fleas. And if it does get fleas, they are not difficult to treat.

I don't have any animals in my home with fleas, and I won't be taking my dog to a flea infested are with knowledge of it...but how likely is it that my dog would get fleas going potty outside? I've never had a dog, so I don't know much about the care that needs to go into living with one.

almost nil.