Author Topic: Question About Schnauzers (Read 515 times)

Seagoon · « **on:** January 20, 2006, 12:35:50 AM »

Hi All,

After 12 years of renting, we are finally buying our first home - we close on February 8th. The house itself is a V.A. foreclosure and the evicted owners trashed the place (they took everything they could, including the kitchen sink(!) and the fixtures in the bath tub when they left) so its going to be a monumental task to get it livable. But.... Here's the upside - we can finally get a dog!

Yes, my wife made me swear when we got married that I wouldn't get a dog until we owned a house. At the time I had no idea I was sentencing myself to a dozen years of doglessness, but there it is.

Anyway, one of my sons is violently alergic to fur, so my wife wants a dog with hair. Poodles are definitely out, and I'm not a fan of "toy dogs" so we are considering a Giant Schnauzer. Anyone had an experience with them? Any allergy problems? Any warnings? Any advice?

- SEAGOON

Flit · « **Reply #1 on:** January 20, 2006, 12:51:43 AM »

I must say I'm a bit confused.
Whats the difference between "hair" and "fur"?
Besides fur is still connected to skin and hair is not ?
Is your child allergic to a certain type of hair ? i.e. cat etc

nirvana · « **Reply #2 on:** January 20, 2006, 12:57:19 AM »

One sheds more then the other, fur I believe it is. That causes more nasties in the air. (I think...)

Hangtime · « **Reply #3 on:** January 20, 2006, 01:48:36 AM »

same situation. daughter was allergic to fur, so the wife got her a westhighland white terrier (westie)

no fur. has hair.

loyal little beastie, extremley brave, alerts quickly, barks it's head off when strangers cross the property line and will instantly attack any dog larger than it is.

which is why it never goes out for walks without a harness.. it'll snake/shake outta any dog collar and make itself a snack for a dobie or shepard.

aside of it's insanity when challenged it's a very rugged lttle dog that's smart as a whip, digs kids, tolerates cats (is tormented by them actually), travels well in cars, and would rather die than crap in the house. Good home companion in 1/4 scale.

culero · « **Reply #4 on:** January 20, 2006, 01:54:11 AM »

Daschund or miniature doberman are other reasonable alternatives if you simply must have a small dog.

culero (prefers real dogs)

Hangtime · « **Reply #5 on:** January 20, 2006, 01:58:18 AM »

he want a big furless dog. we have a little one.

frankly, the smaller turds and lighter dog food sacks are a bonus.. the damn thing makes as much noise as a big dog.

JTs · « **Reply #6 on:** January 20, 2006, 03:01:46 AM »

somehow i think the dog will be the least of yor problems. good luck with the house.

Sixpence · « **Reply #7 on:** January 20, 2006, 05:36:10 AM »

Growing up the next door neighbor had a white mini schnauzer. It was a small dog, pretty friendly to people it knew, barked like crazy at people it didn't. I'm not into schnauzers, but it wasn't a bad dog.

I never had a small dog but Hang makes a good point, small dogs make small turds and it doesn't cost alot to feed them.

Congrats on the new house

Angus · « **Reply #8 on:** January 20, 2006, 07:00:50 AM »

Go for a big terrier perhaps?
Or a french shepheard. I think they don't shed hairs and they are rather big. Just can't recall the name.

Angus · « **Reply #9 on:** January 20, 2006, 07:02:54 AM »

Oh found a nice link. Look here:
http://www.petplanet.co.uk

Edit: that's the one I meant. Good site anyway.

http://www.petplanet.co.uk/dog_breed_profile.asp?dbid=10

culero · « **Reply #10 on:** January 20, 2006, 07:07:58 AM »

Quote

Originally posted by Hangtime
he want a big furless dog. we have a little one.

frankly, the smaller turds and lighter dog food sacks are a bonus.. the damn thing makes as much noise as a big dog.

All true. Still, just as with firearms, I prefer larger

culero (size does make a difference

)

lasersailor184 · « **Reply #11 on:** January 20, 2006, 08:10:07 AM »

Actually, I would suggest a Poodle. Not one of those mini little ****ers, but a standard poodle.

Poodle's are hunting dogs. They do not shed and are actually quite manly as long as you don't allow your wife to trim the hair into those gay little poofs.

nuchpatrick · « **Reply #12 on:** January 20, 2006, 08:40:02 AM »

Schnauzers are great dogs for people with algeries. It is one of the only dogs I know that do work with people with algeries.

I would first introduce your children to the breed of dog to see if they will interact with there algeries. That way you don't get the dog and you have a big flair up of algeries with the rugrats

I find as I get older, mine are starting to get to me. I can no longer be around cats for long periods of time.

indy007 · « **Reply #13 on:** January 20, 2006, 09:08:46 AM »

Quote

Originally posted by lasersailor184
Actually, I would suggest a Poodle. Not one of those mini little ****ers, but a standard poodle.

Poodle's are hunting dogs. They do not shed and are actually quite manly as long as you don't allow your wife to trim the hair into those gay little poofs.

Those poofs are actually there for a reason. They're supposed to be cut over muscles to keep them warm, but get rid of all the excess hair that can get waterlogged when they're running around in the woods. Not bad dogs.. but I think you have to trade in part of your manhood when you get one.

Here's what I want, but I don't have the space, time, or discipline to raise them correctly

Caucasian Ovcharka! Couldn't really even get them in the US until the fall of the Soviet Union. You're in special luck if you can find a breeder that has puppies with the "blue eye'd gene". Problem with them is they'll attack anything they feel is a threat to their property and family... including cars driving down the street... without very careful social training.

"Soyuznik" @ 1 1/2 years old, 30" tall at the shoulder.

Not to make it a complete hijack, my mutt is 1/2 Schnauzer Terrier, 1/2 Lhasa Apso. Best dog I've ever had. Quiet, well behaved, smart, very social.

lasersailor184 · « **Reply #14 on:** January 20, 2006, 09:21:39 AM »

For the longest time a family friend of ours had a poodle. None of us realized that it was a poodle because it wasn't trimmed like poodles are supposed to be.

That dog was awesome, very brave and very smart. You don't have to give up anything as long as you refuse to have the dog's hair trimmed into poof balls.