Author Topic: Pet question (Read 506 times)

SuperDud · « **on:** July 03, 2005, 10:56:52 PM »

My g/f has been searching and searching for a god internet site to look up info on dogs. She's determined to get one and she want's to read up on the different breeds 1st. Anyone have any good sites with info on the various breeds?

Drifter1234 · « **Reply #1 on:** July 03, 2005, 11:01:56 PM »

This is a good starting point.

http://www.akc.org/breeds/breeds_c.cfm

FiLtH · « **Reply #2 on:** July 04, 2005, 02:31:33 AM »

Be sure YOU really want one. They are a responsibility you both need to be part of. The reason I say this is because I see its your girlfriend.

crowMAW · « **Reply #3 on:** July 04, 2005, 07:39:49 AM »

Also try not to choose a breed just because it is "cute". Consider the temprament of the breed.

For example, I have a pair of Border Collies. I would never recommend that breed to anyone who is not willing to spend time everyday playing with them until the dogs are dead tired.

Each breed's standard temprament is different. Do some research. Find one that is right for your lifestyle.

myelo · « **Reply #4 on:** July 04, 2005, 08:18:15 AM »

The most important thing is matching to right dog to the individual owner. As crow indicated, a lot of the features AKC and other show-dog associations focus on are not very important. Do you really care if the dog’s height at the withers is 23 inches and not 24 inches? The main factors to consider are the dog’s environment and how much time the owner will spend with the dog on a daily basis.

For example, if you live in Miami you don’t want a St. Bernard. If you’re in North Dakota, you probably shouldn’t get a greyhound. Live in a small downtown apartment without a fenced yard? Cross most large and giant breeds off the list.

Next, be brutally honest about how much time she wants to spend with the dog each day – for the next 10-15 years. Dogs like Shih Tzus may be perfectly happy to be couch potatoes all day. But many working breeds, like Labradors and Australian shepherds can go crazy (literally) if they don’t have a lot of exercise and interaction.

Unless she likes to groom dogs, or wants to pay someone else to do it, don’t get a dog that needs a lot of brushing and clipping. Don’t want to vacuum every day? Don’t get a dog with long hair that sheds a lot.

Ability and available time to train the dog are also important. Unless she’s experienced with training dogs, or will pay someone who is, be careful with dogs that have a strong personality, like most terriers. Will she know what to do if the rottweiler decides he’s going to sleep on the bed, not her? Or you?

She should spend some time thinking about this. The most common cause of death for dogs in the US is euthanasia in a shelter. And the most common reason a dog ends up in a shelter is someone gets the wrong dog or someone shouldn’t have a dog at all.

aztec · « **Reply #5 on:** July 04, 2005, 08:33:32 AM »

Whatever she does please encourage her NOT to buy from a pet shop. Find a reputable breeder if she really wants a purebred or rescue from the pound if purebred is not a requirement.

Hangtime · « **Reply #6 on:** July 04, 2005, 11:06:03 AM »

Myelo's advice is dead-on.

When my kid was eight the Ex wanted to get her a dog.. and started researching breeds. We needed a small dog.. and the kid has mild pet dander allergies.

We settled on one of these:

A Westie (Westhighland White Terrier)

Sometimes a goofly lil thing.. it's also good natured and tolerant with kids over 5.. not a dog to leave alone with toddlers tho. It's now 13 years old, still very agile and seems like she'll go on forever. Was dubious about the choice of a terrier at first, but the Westies seem to be very personable compared to other terrier breeds.

Being a Terrier, it's an excellent tripwire defense system.. makes a heluva racket when somebody it doesn't know comes on the property. Can't walk it without a halter (not a collar leash) because it simply goes nuts when it see's a squirrel, cat or bigger dog. Instinct and breeding.. they were bred as ratters and also used to train larger breeds to be agressive. This is not a dog to have outdoors EVER on anything other than a halter.

Can't help but be cheered up when I walk thru the door.. that goofly lil white mop is always sincerely happy to see me. Very affectionate, a good family dog as long as you don't have toddlers.. can be agressive with smaller children. Don't know why.

SuperDud · « **Reply #7 on:** July 04, 2005, 11:56:30 AM »

Thanks for the input guys, I'll let the boss take a look at it and see what she thinks. I think that's why she wanted to find a website about the breeds, to get an idea of what would work for us. She's mentioned smaller to medium sized dogs(has a thing for beagles) so I think I'm safe there. As for enviroment, we live in OH so we have everything but volcanoes. Actually buying one is still a ways down the road, this is just a recon mission lol. aztec, I think when the time comes she's going to go to the pound 1st and I'll keep what you said in mind. Thanks again all.

StarOfAfrica2 · « **Reply #8 on:** July 04, 2005, 12:31:35 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Hangtime
Myelo's advice is dead-on.

When my kid was eight the Ex wanted to get her a dog.. and started researching breeds. We needed a small dog.. and the kid has mild pet dander allergies.

We settled on one of these:

A Westie (Westhighland White Terrier)

Sometimes a goofly lil thing.. it's also good natured and tolerant with kids over 5.. not a dog to leave alone with toddlers tho. It's now 13 years old, still very agile and seems like she'll go on forever. Was dubious about the choice of a terrier at first, but the Westies seem to be very personable compared to other terrier breeds.

Being a Terrier, it's an excellent tripwire defense system.. makes a heluva racket when somebody it doesn't know comes on the property. Can't walk it without a halter (not a collar leash) because it simply goes nuts when it see's a squirrel, cat or bigger dog. Instinct and breeding.. they were bred as ratters and also used to train larger breeds to be agressive. This is not a dog to have outdoors EVER on anything other than a halter.

Can't help but be cheered up when I walk thru the door.. that goofly lil white mop is always sincerely happy to see me. Very affectionate, a good family dog as long as you don't have toddlers.. can be agressive with smaller children. Don't know why.

I personally would agree with the terriers, but you also have to realize they need to be part of the family. My ex-wife just HAD to have one of these things. She pestered me incessantly after she lost her previous dog (an old half-poodle, half-terrier mix) and I finally gave in and found a breeder. I made sure they would give us a money back guarantee though, because I was afraid of what was going to happen. Our son was between 1 and 2, and had just gotten to where he could comfortably sleep in his own room (our previous place he had been in the same room with us due to lack of space). She absolutely refused to allow the dog to sleep in the same room with us, or to allow it to wander the house at night (she was worried about our son, and I agreed on that point-at least until he was older and the dog was accustomed to us). But instead of taking my advice and putting up a gate to block the dog's access to the rear of the house (where my son's room was), she insisted the dog be closed in the kitchen at night and be taught that's where it should stay (at night). I laughed, but we did it her way. After a week and a half, neither of us had gotten more than a few hours sleep a night, the corners of the walls had been chewed away, the kitchen chair legs had all been gnawed, and I'm not sure if she wanted to kill me or the dog more. I was going to take the dog back, but my brother had two small kids and plenty of room, and they wanted it. I took the dog to them, he let it have the run of the house, and the dog settled right in. All it wanted was company. Which I tried to tell my ex, but she had to have it HER way. So rule 1, dont try to out-stubborn a terrier. You'll lose. Dont try to out-stubborn my ex either. You might win but you wont enjoy it lol.

Just as Hangtime said, the dog is very affectionate, and while it can be a bit aggressive in certain situations, for the most part it is very well behaved. The kids absolutely adore it, and it's very protective.

DREDIOCK · « **Reply #9 on:** July 04, 2005, 12:32:34 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by SuperDud
Thanks for the input guys, I'll let the boss take a look at it and see what she thinks. I think that's why she wanted to find a website about the breeds, to get an idea of what would work for us. She's mentioned smaller to medium sized dogs(has a thing for beagles) so I think I'm safe there. As for enviroment, we live in OH so we have everything but volcanoes. Actually buying one is still a ways down the road, this is just a recon mission lol. aztec, I think when the time comes she's going to go to the pound 1st and I'll keep what you said in mind. Thanks again all.

BEWARE!

I've had 3 purebred and 1 Beagle/Terrier mix

Beagles are GREAT dogs. great with kids. Great radiators on a cold winter night. Great Vacume cleaners for any food dropped on the floor.

The one thing they aint great on is getting housebroken.
Oh it can be done...eventually but its not the easiest thing to do
Someone has GOT to be there during the day to train them untill they are broken.

And if you go out. even for 15 minutes and come home. They need to be let out. That is a constant for the duration of their lives.

But once you get em housebroke they are great dogs

Also. There is a saying about beagles.
"Once the nose goes down, the brain shuts off."

Entirely true. So keep em on a leash cause once they start sniffing something they will completely ignore anything you say.

If you have kids around they are great for keeping the floor clean of any dropped snacks little kids tend to drop. I wuld swear the ones I had could hear a potato chip hit a carpeted floor from 3 rooms away. Literally any kind of food that hits the floor wont be there by the time you go to get a rag to clean it up.

Be semi careful with their diet or you will have a fat dog. they will eat not just till they are full but untill there isnt any food left.
And dont leave ay food where they might be able to get it like a cofeee table, or wont be there when you come back from the fridge with that beer you forgot to grab. In one case even the beer wasnt safe.

Oh and if you have rabbits in the neighborhood like I do in mine. be careful of talking the dog out at 3 AM their baying (beagle bark) wil be enough to wake several neighbors.

Cool dogs though. if it werent for the housebreaking I'd get another

Maverick · « **Reply #10 on:** July 04, 2005, 12:34:23 PM »

We have a pug. Small enough to be comfortable in a RV, moderately trainable and good natured. They do shed ALOT for a short haired dog.

Drifter1234 · « **Reply #11 on:** July 04, 2005, 02:22:02 PM »

I got an english cocker spaniel 3 yrs ago.

Great dog, fine for the house, great around kids, it is a little bigger than an American cocker but a more laid back personality. I have always peferred a female dog (nuetered). Scent dogs (big noses and large eared dogs) tend to follow scents and roam away more. I have always had a big fenced in back yard and have a dog door so dog can come and go as she pleases.

Dogs are 12-15 yr obligation. Need a place to keep the dog when you travel. Upside is they do not complain and you never come home to an empty house. Wife is not a big dog fan but has come to the realization that I will always have a dog.

Take your time but if possible buy a dog from someone that you can see the parents of the dog. If you decide on an AKC registered breed they usually have societies(groups) for each breed with registered breeders.

Hope this helps.

Hangtime · « **Reply #12 on:** July 04, 2005, 02:45:28 PM »

Quote

All it wanted was company.

Went thru the same exact thing with ours.. the mop wants to be with people. Doesn't want to be a lap dog.. just wants to be in the same room. Damndest thing.. loyal to a fault; very watchful. Wherever I went, whatever room, the little thing would pick itself up and stroll along behind.

It also loves 'guard'.. if the cats left the room, she'd go over and lay in the doorway. Wouldn't let 'em back in. The cats demonstrated superior tactical reasoning and teamwork advantages.. learned about how smart cats really are as they would 'lure' the dog from the doorway, then do an end run around. The dog always fell for it.

Favorite game is 'tug'.. a chunk of rope or and old rag. Won't 'fetch', will chase tho. Most corageous little critter I ever saw.. would turn into a ravening beast and throw herself on a 6 times bigger dog in a heartbeat, particularly if the dog invaded her territory. Incredible.. and potentailly tragic if you don't keep 'em on a halter outdoors.

StarOfAfrica2 · « **Reply #13 on:** July 04, 2005, 02:46:10 PM »

Dred I had some myself, and I loved my beagles. But I always lived where I had access to open space and I went hunting alot and could take them along to work it of them. I dont have any of that where I'm at now, so I resist the urge when I see them. Bassett Hounds are great little dogs too, altho a bit on the homely side (they do grow on ya tho lol). But just like those beagles (or any hound really), you have to watch if you take em out at night and they catch a scent. Wow can those things get some volume!

Skydancer · « **Reply #14 on:** July 05, 2005, 06:46:13 PM »

I got a lovely Welsh Collie ( tricolour brown, white, tan and smaller than a Border Collie ) From a rescue centre. My advice is go to a rehoming or rescue centre. And don't be set on a pedigree, mongrels make just as good pets and often live a little longer. Just remember a dog is halfway between a kid and a cat. In otherwords its a commitment that'll last for maybe 18 years so don't take it lightly.