Thinking of getting a puppy, need advice

[monarch64]

Codex57, meant to add earlier do NOT get a beagle, although they are great little dogs...they are very pack-oriented and have a tendency to suffer from separation anxiety due to being away from their people too long...we have two and they are the right breed for us because I am able to come home for lunch and spend time with them halfway through the day, and DH has a job which allows him to work from home for the most part. So I kind of fill in when he can''t be around or is travelling. They are great medium sized dogs for a small home, though.

I do know several Rhodesian ridgeback owners who are quite happy with the breed, but are also not leaving the dog at home by itself for long periods of time. I really don''t know any breed, for that matter, who would be happy staying by itself for long periods of time. I would say that is a major hurdle for you to get over before getting a puppy, once again. (Sorry I know I already touched on this matter in my previous post.)

 

[swingirl]

The reason any dog tears up a house is because it''s bored. In the wild a dog (wolf) would have a lot of interesting activities to do from 8-6 that would include chewing, digging, barking, running, etc. and he would have social opporunities non-stop with the pack. You take all that away from him and he''ll get very bored. I mean what do you think he can do for 10 hours, just sleep and wait? And wait for what? A couple hours of activities with the humans, a visit to the yard and then it''s lights out.

I''d say hold off on a dog until you have more time in your life and then introduce the dog after you have a child. Babies and puppies are a full time focus!!

 

[blingless]

We didn''t choose to own a dog it was given to us. The first thing we did was hire a professional trainer who taught us how to train the dog to behave the way we wanted it to behave. Our Vet suggested this knowing we were absolutely clueless. Basically just operant conditioning. We work every day and leave the dog alone. He is crate trained and has a large pen 8ft x 10ft in the family room. The pen is his area and where he stays during the day. We leave a TV on for him. We have been doing this for two years. The first one in lets him out of the pen and is rewarded with an incredible greeting. At night he sleeps in his crate at the foot of our bed. In the morning when its time to go to work we simply give him the pen command and he happily runs to his pen. On weekends he goes everywhere with us. On weekday evenings he is the center of attention. I can assure you he is a happy, well adjusted dog, with absolutely no bad behaviors. He is incredibly smart and learns everything very fast. We got him at roughly 5 months old. While I would love to spend all day everyday with him it isn''t a realistic goal at this point. He may be unusual but he seems to cope with being alone just fine. I have a web cam and check on him occasionally. He spends part of his day playing with his toys and part of his day napping. When I have a day off he basically does the same things - plays with me, palys with his toys and sleeps. I frankly don''t see a problem with having a job and a pet.

A couple of unrequested tips: Please don''t buy from a pet store (search on puppy mills) and adopt if possible. Absolutly no negative action is required or desirable in training a dog. A stern NO is all that is required. Reenforce positive behavior. Train with your dog every day. Every interaction is a training opportunity. Buy a book or hire a trainer to train you on how to train your dog. I firmly believe that a well trained dog is the key to a happy life for both of you. We love our dog and it is a focal point of our family and friends. I hope your dog will enrich your life as much as our has enriched our lives.

 

[monarch64]

Blingless, so cool that you have a web cam and have monitored your dog''s activities during the day! I think Dh and I will be getting one of those soon to keep a virtual eye on our pups. We had kept our now 5 month old beagle puppy baby gated in our kitchen with her crate open, but she has in the past 2 weeks learned how to climb over the gate, rendering it quite useless. However, she has totally obliterated the corners of our upholstered ottoman, even though there are toys and bones out for her and our older dog to play with.

Anyway, nice to know that your dog is having a good experience being left on his own. That gives me hope for the few hours our doggies are left by themselves, LOL!

 

[Mara]

Portia goes to puppy daycare a few days a week, I feel so guilty leaving her alone for an entire workday esp since she was not ''raised'' that way...for the first few years of her life I worked from home part time so she is used to having a lot more interaction during the day than she would get if she was alone for 8-10 hours a day every day (and I don''t leave her alone for longer than 6 anyway because I know that''s her comfort zone with holding her bathroom...anything more and it''s risky and just not fair).

I know people say ''dogs will adjust'' but it''s just a mental thing for me and it''s not a huge deal to make some mods so that she doesn''t have to stay home all day everyday. So we''ve got this schedule worked out where she goes to daycare a few days a week, my grandma gets her one day (for Portia''s benefit as well as Grandma who loves the companionship) and then one day typically she stays home the whole day and relaxes and my Mom comes by in the afternoon on her way home and spends a bit of time with her. It''s kind of a pain to shuttle her here and there, but I know she has interaction and I feel better about it during the day and we''ve got our routine so it''s all good. The daycare has a webcam so sometimes I check in on her and see what''s going on. When she''s at daycare she has a great time...and when she is at home I know she does the same things she does when we are here with her...which is sleep, eat, sleep, eat, look for squirrels, sleep, eat, look for birds, lay in the sun downstairs, etc. lol.

Monarch if you have not already, take the puppy to training...it''s more to train the parents on how to train the puppy than it really is to train the puppy (that''s your job once you know how kinda thing)...but Portia chewed on the ottoman a few times but as soon as I would see her staring at it or trying to climb on it or something, I''d tell her NO and then when she left it alone I''d reward her. After a few times catching her either trying to crawl on it or chew on it and telling her that she learned it was to be left alone. A lot of what we taught her we had to catch her doing things and then tell her NO and introduce something else like a toy or a treat to distract her. Eventually she just caught on. It took a little while thought, at least til about months 7-9.

 

[cpster]

Having a dog is a ton of work and lifelong committment. I'm inclined to say hold off until the situation with your mother-in-law becomes more clear. If she winds up living with you, a companion dog might be a great idea. Do you think she can handle a medium to large sized dog? Or would she do better with a small breed dog? Anyone have allergies?

Also think about how sensitive you are to the dirt from outside coming inside. If you expect the dog to do its business outside, will you get mad a the dirty paws and not get annoyed with having to clean them before the dog comes in? Dogs belong inside the home for sure...I personally hate it when they are outside only. Puppies are especially a lot of work and you'll have your share of accidents before being successful with potty training. It would be best if you could take a week or so off to welcome the dog into your home.

I have a Shih Tzu fur baby that I love, love, love. Most non-show Shih Tzus acutually have shorter hair (puppy clip style) since the long hair requires intense daily maintenance. Shih Tzus with short hair still need a lot of care and visits to the groomer unless you are willing to learn to groom yourself. Nails need to be trimmed, anal glands expressed, ears need to be cleaned. Shih Tzus can also have special health needs due to their build. They often have dry eyes that require special eye drops daily. All of the care I give my dog is totally worth it though as she gives so much in return. The only thing I regret is not adopting one of her litter mates. I even leave the air conditioner on for her during summertime.

I highly encourage you to go to http://www.akc.org/breeds/breeds_a.cfm to read up on breeds. There is also information on breed rescue groups. Please adopt from a rescue or shelter if possible. There are so many wonderful dogs looking for homes.

Have you considered a cat? They seem to be a bit lower maintenance...at least that's what I've been told. I've never owned a cat so I can't speak from personal experience.

 

[ursulawrite]

Please don''t get your dog from a pet store. Pet stores get their pups from puppy mills, despite what the owner may tell you. The Humane Society has a long-running campaign against puppy millers. By getting a pup from a well-respected breeder (one who shows, does all the relevant genetic testing etc.) you will have a pup that''s much healthier, better socialised etc. and you have the obvious added bonus of meeting the pup''s parents (whereas puppymill stud dogs, it has to be said, spend their entire lives in a tiny cage).

Sorry for the rant -- through volunteering with rescue, I''ve seen countless adult dogs with severe leg deformities because they''ve been in mills their own life (and yes, they do supply the ritzy Manhattan pet stores as well).

Here''s a guide to Finding a Breeder; perhaps you could think about rescue, too, and if you want a specific breed, do so through your local breed group.

For all those brave enough to look: Puppy Mill HSUS Campaign

 

[littlelysser]

Thank you Ursula! You took the words right out of my mouth.

PLEASE do not get your pup from a pet store! They looks so cute in the little cages...but you are supporting an industry that basically treats dogs as property. The have health problems, behavioral probelms and they are treated so horribly! It just makes me sick.

Puppy Mills are HORRID places and most puppies at pet stores come from puppy mills.

Should you decide that you want a specific breed of dog - and there is absolutely nothing wrong with that - make sure you find a good breeder. Rescue is a great way to adopt a wonderful pet - we have a rescued muttskie that we adore and we got a pure bred Ibizan hound from a great breeder.

You should make sure you meet the puppy''s parents. See where the parents live. If the breeder doesn''t want to interview YOU before giving you one of her dogs, then she probably isn''t a good breeder.

If you want, I''d more than happy to type out what you should look for in a breeder...but I won''t do it if it isn''t necessary.

Anyhoodle - puppies are a TON of work. And they need to be around people - especially when they are younger! And they can be SUCH a PITA! There were a couple times when I was ready to give our Ibizan puppy to the circus because I was so fed up with him. He''s an absolutely wonderful dog now...and I love him to bits and bits and bits...but they are a LOT of work!

 

[codex57]

If you don't mind, I'd like to know what to look for in a good breeder. I've checked out all the websites of breeders I found when I searched on Yahoo. Well, the first 2 pages. Most look the same.

I don't want to get one from a pet store. They cost too much. I could get one from a breeder for the same price or less, and I know about the puppy mills that sell to pet stores. If I needed to save money, I'd just rescue a dog. That still may be an option, but not to save money. I'm just a little hesitant on rescuing an older dog cuz I'm worried they'll have bad habits and may be too difficult for a first time dog owner to train. I haven't looked around to see what kind of doggy schools there are around here, altho I know the PetCo here has one.

 

[jaz464]

Date: 2/21/2007 7:21:13 PM
Author: Pricescope
I love Rhodesian Ridgebacks!
About Eskimo, sorry i had to come out gross but i think you need to know...it's very hard to keep their pavilion clean...sorry.

ETA: Also if you are looking for a calm, not to be exercised a lot hairless dog and are willing to adopt - a Greyhound kicked out of the racing tracks after age of 4 do not need to run, all they want is to curl up on your couch and be loved. Sometimes they have problems with men though but they are so beautiful.

I have a greyhound rescued from off the track. I think she is just the perfect pet. Very little hair and though they are large dogs, they curl up into the smallest ball and take up very little space. Getting one off the track is a unique expierience however. Many have never been in a house before and don't even know how to climb stairs. I literally had to teach mine how to do the stairs. I do disagree that they don't need to run however. These dogs have it in their blood. They absolutely love to run (though maybe not on a racetrack). I take mine to a local dog park that is fenced in and has a huge open area. She takes off like a shot. If we don't go there often enough she gets a little depressed. So I believe they do have to be let to run fairly often.

Also, because of their strong prey drive (to chase small animals or the lure when racing) they should never, ever be let off leash when not in a fenced in yard. They must be contained at all times. When that drive to chast kicks in, they are off with no stopping them.

I also think a puppy may not be the way to go for you. 6-8 is a long time for a dog to be alone. I think almost too long. Will you be able to or want to stop home in the middle of each day, every single day? And really, just a quick potty break is not enough. Dogs are social animals. So to stay home alone for hours on end is not the best situation. Also, please note that all dogs need to be walked each day. Many people do not do this consistantly but for your dog to be truly happy, it is necessary. In addition, if the dog is walked (and not for just 20 minutes) you will have many less problems that stem from boredom and excess energy. Adult dogs are very often much much easier to handle than a puppy, not harder, assuming you choose one that does not have any major issues. This is entirely possible to do. Whether you want pure bred or mutt, please, please consider adopting and saving the life of a dog that needs you. I will recommend no breeders when dogs are killed each day because they have no home to go to.

Many people think about their own lives and how a dog could fit into it. But we must also consider the needs of the dog. Dogs need excercise every day and companionship. And, very importantly, they need discipline, much more than they need affection. Please consider the needs of a dog, as well as your own needs.

 

[Gypsy]

Date: 2/22/2007 2:15:52 PM
Author: codex57
If you don't mind, I'd like to know what to look for in a good breeder. I've checked out all the websites of breeders I found when I searched on Yahoo. Well, the first 2 pages. Most look the same.

I don't want to get one from a pet store. They cost too much. I could get one from a breeder for the same price or less, and I know about the puppy mills that sell to pet stores. If I needed to save money, I'd just rescue a dog. That still may be an option, but not to save money. I'm just a little hesitant on rescuing an older dog cuz I'm worried they'll have bad habits and may be too difficult for a first time dog owner to train. I haven't looked around to see what kind of doggy schools there are around here, altho I know the PetCo here has one.

Honestly, if you go to a good shelter or rescue organization your fears are pretty groundless. They will usually have pet history information if the pet was surrendered or at the very least a very good idea of the pets personality and quirks from their time at the shelter and the good ones are interested in a 'forever home' for their animals... not just unloading them. So they are honest with you about the pets faults. I personally have trained a 4 year old and a 7 year old shepherd with good training help (a good vet, vet hospital and your local vet school are your best resources for trainers in your area) and have been very happy with the results. And both were dominant breed German Shepherds... and the 7 year old was a MALE one at that. I've also volunteered at shelters.. both great and bad.

Many pets are surrendered for not very good reasons: Moved to no pet housing, got a new job and don't have time, allergies, I'm too old, I'm too young, my new husband/wife doesn't like my pet, I travel too much... I want to travel more ... the list goes on and on.

If your in or Near New Jersey I can help you out with some information Codex.

 

[Mara]

most breeds have their own rescue groups and also AKC kinda related groups/clubs/websites. for example when i wanted a westie, i found the west highland club of america''s website and read up on things. i already knew i wanted one because we had one when i was younger but these websites have a WEALTH of information on the breed, and also things to ask breeders, what to look for, what to avoid etc. also there was a local westie club in the bayarea so i was able to go to events and see the dogs in action and find out who was breeding etc.

use the internet to do your research, it''s invaluable as long as you find a reputable organization with lots of great info.

 

[Dee*Jay]

Date: 2/22/2007 2:29:09 PM
Author: Gypsy

Date: 2/22/2007 2:15:52 PM

Honestly, if you go to a good shelter or rescue organization your fears are pretty groundless. They will usually have pet history information if the pet was surrendered or at the very least a very good idea of the pets personality and quirks from their time at the shelter and the good ones are interested in a 'forever home' for their animals... not just unloading them. So they are honest with you about the pets faults.

I have to add one caveat in here. My happy hubby volunteers at our local anti-cruelty society and he has seen several instances where the data on the little info sheets that people fill out when they surrender a pet is simply not, shall we say, *accurate*.

Almost everyone says that their pet is housebroken; it becomes obvious pretty quickly once the dog is in the shelter for a short period of time that many are not. Almost eveyone checks the box that says good with children; that turns out not to be the case rather quickly when a dog snaps at three children in the space of an hour. Almost everyone checks the box that says good with other dogs; immediate aggressive behavior toward others in the shelter disproves that pretty quickly. Almost everyone checks the box that says the dog is not destructive; many dogs come back rather quickly for chewing up too many pairs of momma's $500 shoes.

I don't know why people are not entirely honest on these info sheets (maybe because they think the dogs "faults" will reflect poorly on them?), and I'm definitely not saying don't go to a shelter becuase I sincerely hope that you will, but don't take whatever info you get there as gospel.

"Be prepared for the worst and hope for the best" was the HH's and my attitude when we went looking for a dog. We got a mixed bag, but we have taken the good with the bad. The Demon is likely to get a sister in the spring. We will get her from anti-cruelty but we are older and wiser this time and will put less stock in what they tell us and simply prepare to deal with what we get.

ETA: I don't know why my text is in the blue box. Sorry if that's confusing to anyone, I was just trying to quote Gypsy at the beginning of my post and now I can't make it go away...

 

[fire&ice]

Yeah, the people who bring in their pets do not give accurate information. Most of the better rescue groups will have some heavy duty evalution before putting the dog up for adoption. Many are safe housed and you can get a pretty good idea about temperment. In our group, we had several evaluators. Also, while housing some of the dogs at the kennel, we would each write extensive behaviour profiles on each pup.

Honestly, we had some REALLY nice dogs come through our rescue system. I still keep in touch with some of the adoptor''s. Most dogs have a happy ending.

Regarding rescue Greyhounds, our vet''s assistant is heavy into it. 5 rescue greyhounds come to work with her & a co-worker everyday. Any time I''m in there they are couch potatoes all curled up together in a relatively small space. If they are up, they are quite friendly. I was told by the both of them that they do like to run though. They said it was kinda a go-go/ no-go thing with them.

 

[Apsara]

I know this is my opinion but I really can''t fathom why anyone wanting a dog would NOT adopt from rescue or a shelter.

Spend 5 minutes really looking into the pet overpopulation crisis in this country (and the world) and the immeasurable suffering millions of dogs endure (like "euthanasia" by gassing--NO living creature should be gassed to death) as a result, and there just is no other option... Adopting from a rescue or shelter is a must. Ultimately, shelter/rescue dogs are less work than a typical puppy and are usually trained to some degree. Could there be issues related to past abuse/neglect? Sure, but the good rescue groups identify and inform propsective "parents" on these conditions, and most can be oversome with a little patience, some training and lots of love.

Like having a child, you really never know... 99% of the time, things will work out fine, but you could get the puppy with the genetic condition that doesn''t surface for 2 years or less likely, the adopted dog who just can''t get past horrible abuse in his past.... Just like you could have a healthy baby or one with birth defects.... When adopting a dog, the commitment must be to the dog no matter what, except in the most extreme circumstances (unfortunately, some dogs just can''t ovecome their horrible pasts and won''t socialize properly with a family)... Dogs are not toys to be returned to the toy shop when they become tiresome or show a minor defect.

And as others have said, there is a rescue for every breed. IAny dog is a huge commitment but it is only a burden when adopting the animal is not the right decision in the first place.

From what I''ve read there are too many "ifs, ands or buts" here... I''d wait and really search your soul on whether this is the right decision for you.

 

[Miranda]

Date: 2/22/2007 2:15:52 PM
Author: codex57
If you don''t mind, I''d like to know what to look for in a good breeder. I''ve checked out all the websites of breeders I found when I searched on Yahoo. Well, the first 2 pages. Most look the same.

I don''t want to get one from a pet store. They cost too much. I could get one from a breeder for the same price or less, and I know about the puppy mills that sell to pet stores. If I needed to save money, I''d just rescue a dog. That still may be an option, but not to save money. I''m just a little hesitant on rescuing an older dog cuz I''m worried they''ll have bad habits and may be too difficult for a first time dog owner to train. I haven''t looked around to see what kind of doggy schools there are around here, altho I know the PetCo here has one.

If you''re looking for a pedigreed pup, don''t bargain shop. So the pet is $600-$1000 (the average cost of a pet quality common dog - I''m not talking about a fancy breed) over it''s lifetime that''s not a lot of money. If you''re still thinking of getting a dog I''d recommend finding a breed you love and then rescuing an adult (1-2 yrs.) dog. Codex, correct me if I''m wrong, but, I thought you were in the LA or OC area. If you are from OC I can fill you in on many of the local shelters. I can honestly say that I was very impressed with the animals and care of the animals at so many of them. We checked out quite a few during our up and down cat quest.

 

[aussiegirl23]

Date: 2/22/2007 2:15:52 PM
Author: codex57
If you don''t mind, I''d like to know what to look for in a good breeder. I''ve checked out all the websites of breeders I found when I searched on Yahoo. Well, the first 2 pages. Most look the same.

I don''t want to get one from a pet store. They cost too much. I could get one from a breeder for the same price or less, and I know about the puppy mills that sell to pet stores. If I needed to save money, I''d just rescue a dog. That still may be an option, but not to save money. I''m just a little hesitant on rescuing an older dog cuz I''m worried they''ll have bad habits and may be too difficult for a first time dog owner to train. I haven''t looked around to see what kind of doggy schools there are around here, altho I know the PetCo here has one.

Codex -- you want to know what separates GOOD breeders from "back yard" breeders & the like? Here are a FEW examples....

Reputable breeders:
-screen potential buyers like MAD about what they are looking for in a dog, what their home situation is like, what they know a bout a breed, how they are prepared to train and care for a dog, etc...

-don''t allow families to pick puppies from a litter themselves -- this lets people focus on color/sex/looks instead of making a very solid, intelligent personality fit... i.e. the craziest puppy in the litter going to the people who want a laid back dog simply because it LOOKS right

-have done extensive testing on their breeding stock for the problem areas of the breed - example for Australian Shepherds (testing for epilepsy genes, hips for hip dysplasia, etc...) and do NOT breed specimens of the breed that do not do WELL on these tests!

-sell pets (i.e. companion animals) on a SPAY/NEUTER contract ONLY! "Intact" animals only going to responsible breeders with an established program

-EDUCATE buyers about the breed in terms of temperment, health, training, etc...

-do NOT have tons of litters a year, or breed TONS of different breeds of dogs... they focus on ONE (maybe 2) breeds of dogs and make it a CAREFUL art of breeding very selectively with the breed''s betterment in mind - not money, or cuteness factor!

okay, this is just a start for a list, but really, these things are important... and again, this is NOt an endorsement for buying from a breeder, but a heads-up as to what is important to look for in a breeder if you should choose that route!

Aussie : p

 

[aussiegirl23]

"We''re looking at possibly trying to get an American Eskimo. Maybe a Shih-Tzu. Possibly a Pomeranian."

Okay, here are a few health things to ask breeders about for each of these breeds... it will save you pain, suffering and VET BILLS in the end

AMERICAN ESKIMOS: prone to hip dysplasia, progressive retinal atrophy, dermatitis (caused by fleas and/or lack of grooming), getting overweight (due to lack of exercise)

SHIH-TZU: prone to ear, eye and respiratory problems, spinal disc disease caused by long back & shorter legs, need regular veterinary care & dental cleaning (they tend to lose their teeth early), getting overweight (they do very easily and shouldn''t be overfed)

POMERANIAN: prone to slippled stifle, dislocated patellas (knee caps), heart and skin problems, and eye infections... need regular veterinary care & dental cleanings (prone to losing teeth early -- feeding dry food can help with this & gum disease)

hope this helps...
Aussie : p

 

[codex57]

I''m from LA/OC, but I moved up the NorCal about a year ago. All my family and most of my friends are down there though. I''d love to learn about reputable shelters or breeders down there.

I heard $500-1000 from a breeder is common. No big deal. That''s cuz the only pet store my wife knows of in the SF area that consistently has dogs is way overpriced. They want $1000 for pretty much all their dogs. The mini doberman and a couple other dogs looked highly suspect. I''d guess they were from backyard breeders. The others I couldn''t tell. Looked reasonably adjusted and healthy to me. Still, if I''m gonna pay $1000, I''d rather get it from a breeder specializing in that breed and has all the paperwork and vet workup than some mall pet store.

Thanks for letting me know what the dogs are prone to get. Seems like most dogs might get hip displacia. I was reading one breeder''s website where he said that you should only feed an eskie one time a day. If that''s true, I woulda totally overfed if I didn''t know that.

 

[MustangFan]

Whatever you decided on, get pet insurance when there young, my dog is costing a lot of money now, but what can you do??

I wouldn''t under estimate a smaller dog, depends the energy they have and it''s not just the breed you have to look at it''s the individual dog.

Alaskan breed tend to be wiry

My Siberian is almost out of the norm, he acts like a Lab and has never chewed up anything in the house, not even when he was a pup.
A lot of Alaskan Siberians do not like being in the house! There thick coat does tollerant 70 degree house. If you backyard is all dirt then I was make a runs for your dog. My dog has a 30x80'' run

 

[lizz]

One of our dogs is 1/2 American Eskimo, 1/2 Husky. He's the smartest dog I've ever seen. Friendly, protective, loyal, good with children, and just a good all-around dog. As with any new animal in the home, there's a period of adjustment when it first arrives. He is awesome. I highly recommend the Eskie breed. My husband had done a lot of research, too, before we got a dog. He decided that an Eskie would be the best choice for us. I've included a pic of him, Quigley is his name.

ETA: We looked up American Eskimo rescue organizations, and that is where we ultimately found him. He was lying next to a convenience store sleeping in the sun, and someone thought he was dead. That is how he ended up being adopted. It turns out he was actually shot, and he has a bullet in his hip (the vet says it's best to leave it there because it's not bothering him).

 

[laru0283]

Date: 2/21/2007 7:54:37 PM
Author: Apsara
Adopt a dog from a rescue organization or shelter.

www.petfinder.com

I agree!! we got our pup (about 6 mos. old) from a shelter and he''s the best dog either of us have ever had! plus, it breaks my heart to see all the dogs that get passed over just because they''re pound puppies and not pure breds.

 

[UCLABelle]

What about a maltese? They are awfully cute, my friend has one, and just loves her to death.

I have been looking into getting a puppy for about two years now. I fostered for a while when I lived in Manhattan. I just love them to death, but NEVER had one of my own. My husband-to-be and I are both in grad school, and work 10 hours a week, but we know it will "only get worse" when we get full-time jobs. We have been researching breeds like crazy, and have a few we just cannot decide between:

1. Westie
2. Maltese
3. Yorkie, Yorkie Poo

They are all different in terms of personality. The Yorkie and Maltese would be better size wise for our lifestyle, but I just love the personality of the Westie (I bought a few books about them, training, etc.)....

Only time will tell...

 

[whatmeworry]

I recommend reading the book, "The Art of Raising a Puppy" by the Monks of New Skete. It was very helpful to me.

 

[Gypsy]

Date: 2/22/2007 2:44:26 PM
Author: Dee*Jay

Date: 2/22/2007 2:29:09 PM
Author: Gypsy

Date: 2/22/2007 2:15:52 PM

Honestly, if you go to a good shelter or rescue organization your fears are pretty groundless. They will usually have pet history information if the pet was surrendered or at the very least a very good idea of the pets personality and quirks from their time at the shelter and the good ones are interested in a ''forever home'' for their animals... not just unloading them. So they are honest with you about the pets faults.

I have to add one caveat in here. My happy hubby volunteers at our local anti-cruelty society and he has seen several instances where the data on the little info sheets that people fill out when they surrender a pet is simply not, shall we say, *accurate*.

Almost everyone says that their pet is housebroken; it becomes obvious pretty quickly once the dog is in the shelter for a short period of time that many are not. Almost eveyone checks the box that says good with children; that turns out not to be the case rather quickly when a dog snaps at three children in the space of an hour. Almost everyone checks the box that says good with other dogs; immediate aggressive behavior toward others in the shelter disproves that pretty quickly. Almost everyone checks the box that says the dog is not destructive; many dogs come back rather quickly for chewing up too many pairs of momma''s $500 shoes.

I don''t know why people are not entirely honest on these info sheets (maybe because they think the dogs ''faults'' will reflect poorly on them?), and I''m definitely not saying don''t go to a shelter becuase I sincerely hope that you will, but don''t take whatever info you get there as gospel.

''Be prepared for the worst and hope for the best'' was the HH''s and my attitude when we went looking for a dog. We got a mixed bag, but we have taken the good with the bad. The Demon is likely to get a sister in the spring. We will get her from anti-cruelty but we are older and wiser this time and will put less stock in what they tell us and simply prepare to deal with what we get.

ETA: I don''t know why my text is in the blue box. Sorry if that''s confusing to anyone, I was just trying to quote Gypsy at the beginning of my post and now I can''t make it go away...

Hi Deejay... My post was probably unclear... I know that the people surrendering lie. Badly. My own Sheila is a good example of this... what I meant is that good rescue organizations don''t lie. As you said, when the dog is their care, they observe the dog and get to know its habits, regardless of what the surrendering owner said, the GOOD rescues I have worked with will tell people flat out if the animal is bad with other dogs, with kids, with housebreaking etc.

In my experience its all about the quality of the rescue facility and how much responsibility they are willing to take on. I have not yet found a place out here in CA that is as good as th shelter I volunteered for in NJ. Which I think is sad.

 

[Apsara]

Date: 2/24/2007 10:57:09 AM
Author: lizz
One of our dogs is 1/2 American Eskimo, 1/2 Husky. He''s the smartest dog I''ve ever seen. Friendly, protective, loyal, good with children, and just a good all-around dog. As with any new animal in the home, there''s a period of adjustment when it first arrives. He is awesome. I highly recommend the Eskie breed. My husband had done a lot of research, too, before we got a dog. He decided that an Eskie would be the best choice for us. I''ve included a pic of him, Quigley is his name.

ETA: We looked up American Eskimo rescue organizations, and that is where we ultimately found him. He was lying next to a convenience store sleeping in the sun, and someone thought he was dead. That is how he ended up being adopted. It turns out he was actually shot, and he has a bullet in his hip (the vet says it''s best to leave it there because it''s not bothering him).

Look at this beautiful creatue...Is there really any other way? Kudos to you.

I am so passionate about adoption/rescue... If those here could only know the horror of what goes on... and how saving a life is so impactful... This is, unfortunately, a situation where if you are not part of the solution (adoption/rescue), you are part of the problem--every dog bought from a breeder, whether reputable or not, feeds the crisis. And pet stores--you need your head examined if you go in to one of those...

If my words reach ONE person out there and convince him/her to look into rescue, it''s worth it. So I post...

And guess what? They''re the BEST dogs! I''m on my 6th rescue/adoption dog and they are truly magnificent in evey way. The depths of their souls cannot be measured.

 

[AmberGretchen]

Bless you Lizz - your dog is beautiful and that''s such a sad story but with such a wonderful ending!

I have to say that Apsara makes some really excellent points here, and Codex I really think they are worth considering. If you are concerned about the habits of your dog, the absolute best thing you can do is to adopt an adult dog from a rescue who''s dogs are in foster care. The reasoning behind this is as follows: puppies undergo significant personality changes as they grow based on their genetics and their environments, whereas adult dogs have more mature personalities that are more established, generally speaking. Also, in foster care, you can get the most accurate possible picture of what the dog is actually like in a home environment. Also, these dogs will often already be crate-trained and will have house-training down as well, besides other appropriate home behaviors.

Best of luck and I hope that ultimately you find the dog or other pet that is best for you, if you decide that a pet is the best thing at this time for you and your wife.

Apsara - thank you for speaking so eloquently on your experiences in rescue. I too, have had some (though not much just yet) experience with this, and your words really do ring true.

 

[codex57]

Thanks for all your advise and comments, everyone. Looks like we're going to table the puppy idea for now. I'm still going to do research, but we just found out this weekend that we're likely going to be adding something different than a puppy to our family.

 

[Kaleigh]

Date: 2/26/2007 1:49:43 PM
Author: codex57
Thanks for all your advise and comments, everyone. Looks like we''re going to table the puppy idea for now. I''m still going to do research, but we just found out this weekend that we''re likely going to be adding something different than a puppy to our family.

Awww, congrats!!!!

 

[pricescope]

Date: 2/26/2007 1:49:43 PM
Author: codex57
Thanks for all your advise and comments, everyone. Looks like we''re going to table the puppy idea for now. I''m still going to do research, but we just found out this weekend that we''re likely going to be adding something different than a puppy to our family.

Oh Boy!

...or girl!