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General Forums => The O' Club => Topic started by: Seagoon on January 20, 2006, 12:35:50 AM

Title: Question About Schnauzers
Post by: 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
Title: Question About Schnauzers
Post by: Flit 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
Title: Question About Schnauzers
Post by: nirvana 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...)
Title: Question About Schnauzers
Post by: Hangtime 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.
Title: Question About Schnauzers
Post by: culero 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)
Title: Question About Schnauzers
Post by: Hangtime 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.
Title: Question About Schnauzers
Post by: JTs 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.
Title: Question About Schnauzers
Post by: Sixpence 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
Title: Question About Schnauzers
Post by: Angus 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.
Title: Question About Schnauzers
Post by: Angus 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
Title: Question About Schnauzers
Post by: culero 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 ;))
Title: Question About Schnauzers
Post by: lasersailor184 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.
Title: Question About Schnauzers
Post by: nuchpatrick 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.
Title: Question About Schnauzers
Post by: indy007 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.

(http://esquirecaucasians.com/photos/FrolOnegaMF6opt_c2005Kubyn.jpg)
(http://www.courageouscaucasians.com/pgSzsv1201.jpg)
"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.
Title: Question About Schnauzers
Post by: lasersailor184 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.
Title: Re: Question About Schnauzers
Post by: KONG1 on January 20, 2006, 09:56:31 AM
Quote
Originally posted by Seagoon

one of my sons is violently alergic to fur ... Any advice?

If that’s the case then it would be unconscionable to have an animal in the house...been there.
Title: If yo do decide to get a dog...
Post by: rshubert on January 20, 2006, 10:42:23 AM
DO NOT get it from a pet shop.  Find a private breeder and make sure the dog is hand raised in the home for the all-important first six weeks.  A puppy mill dog doesn't socialize as well as a hand-raised dog.  Period.

You will also be able to work with the breeder, perhaps "borrowing" a dog for a couple of days to see if your child is sensitive.  I'm violently allergic to cats (but not dogs) and I can tell within a few hours that there is or has been a cat in a location.  Put your child with the dog you are interested in, and look for early allergy symptoms.  The runny nose, itchy eyes, etc. can be precursors to a serious allergy attack (my worst case is an asthma attack).

Make sure you have some benadryl handy during the test--if a severe reaction happens, give the child an adult dose and get them to the hospital.  Interestingly, you can take a LOT of benadryl for a severe reaction.  When I get an asthma attack, they give it via a shot, and lots of it.  It just makes you sleepy.

Talk to your doctor to ok this stuff, and do the test before buying the dog.  I hope it works out for you, because EVERY BOY SHOULD HAVE A DOG!
Title: Re: Re: Question About Schnauzers
Post by: Seagoon on January 20, 2006, 10:47:23 AM
Hi Kong,

Quote
Originally posted by KONG1
If that’s the case then it would be unconscionable to have an animal in the house...been there.


Actually, I have always been a little bit alergic to dogs and very alergic to cats myself. I grew up with a dog that had hair, a poodle/border collie mix, not fur (dogs like Poodles & terriers & Schnauzers have hair - they don't shed) and I never had allergic reactions to her. On the other hand I sneezed my head off around my brother in law's Labrador. As far as we can tell, the same applies to my son. In any event, we are going to do the play and sniff test before buying and check him for reactions. Any dog that triggers them doesn't get brought home.

BTW - thanks for the advice guys, and yes, the dog is going to be the least of our worries. Thankfully, the house passed the home inspection with flying colors and our congregation has a lot of guys who are talented at things like carpentry and wiring. Now if only more SF guys had an interest in plumbing...

- SEAGOON
Title: Re: Re: Re: Question About Schnauzers
Post by: Tarmac on January 20, 2006, 12:37:55 PM
Quote
Originally posted by Seagoon
Now if only more SF guys had an interest in plumbing...

- SEAGOON


I hope you mean SF = Special Forces, not SF = San Franciscans.  I have a feeling a lot of the latter have a particular interest in plumbing... specializing in the butt pipe variety.  :D

Good luck with your dog.  Allergies suck.
Title: Question About Schnauzers
Post by: Debonair on January 20, 2006, 02:32:43 PM
Get a hot dog.
The don't shed & they're delicious & you can get a new one whenever you want
Title: Question About Schnauzers
Post by: midnight Target on January 20, 2006, 02:40:26 PM
The perfect dog for your situation has been "created". Of course the real perfect dog is a labrador, but the next best thing is a

Labradoodle
(http://labradoodle-dogs.net/pictures/nikki-labradoodle.jpg)

http://labradoodle-dogs.net/

Basically a Lab / Poodle mix with Lab characteristics and poodle fur.
Title: Question About Schnauzers
Post by: Sandman on January 20, 2006, 05:10:46 PM
Jack Russell Terriers. I have two. They're small, but they're not toys and they get along well with children (or at least mine do).

(http://dotdoubledot.com/img/jrt.jpg)
Title: Question About Schnauzers
Post by: Gunslinger on January 20, 2006, 05:36:56 PM
Goonie, I had a Schnauzer growing up and they are good little dogs.  Ours never shed and were pretty easy to keep up with.  Like hang said they are good at barking, mine hated the UPS truck as well as it's driver.

I'm not sure if this is common but mine did develop sever healt problems and even became diabetic.  My parents shelled out alot of money to keep him alive but to them it was worth every penny.

I told my parents that my wife was pregnent on the same day they put him down.
Title: Question About Schnauzers
Post by: Hangtime on January 20, 2006, 05:37:17 PM
Sandy, why am I not surpised you have dogs smarter than you are?

;)

JRT's a kewl lil dogs.. stubborn; but smart as hell.

:aok
Title: Question About Schnauzers
Post by: RAIDER14 on January 20, 2006, 05:46:17 PM
Rottweilers are great family dogs and great watch dogs
(http://www.welpen.de/zverzeichnis/bilder/rottweiler.jpg)

Clip about rottweilers (http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-3992822508766990423&q=rottweiler)
Title: Question About Schnauzers
Post by: Gunslinger on January 20, 2006, 05:46:58 PM
Quote
Originally posted by Hangtime
Sandy, why am I not surpised you have dogs smarter than you are?

;)



:rofl :lol
Title: Question About Schnauzers
Post by: Sandman on January 20, 2006, 10:11:24 PM
Quote
Originally posted by Hangtime
Sandy, why am I not surpised you have dogs smarter than you are?

;)

JRT's a kewl lil dogs.. stubborn; but smart as hell.

:aok


I'll remember that next time I start to agree with you. ;)
Title: Question About Schnauzers
Post by: Hangtime on January 20, 2006, 11:00:54 PM
Hell, I got a cat that's smarter than I am.

Course, that's not sayin a hell of a lot for the cat.
Title: Question About Schnauzers
Post by: Toad on January 20, 2006, 11:06:57 PM
Schnauzer?

A woman took her Miniature Schnauzer to the vet because he was suffering from ingrown hairs in his ears.

"This is the third time I've had him in here," she lamented to the vet.

"I suggest you get a depilatory like Nair and keep the hair our of his ears," the dog doctor replied.

So the woman went to her neighborhood drug store looking for a hair removal product. The pharmacist was the only one behind the counter.

"May I help you?" he asked.

"I need a depilatory," she replied.

"Lotion or cream?"

"I dont' know. What's the difference?" she queried.

"The cream is very strong for tough hair like that on your legs, while the lotion is mild for tender spots such as under your arms," he said.

"Gee, I dunno," she hesitated, "I want to use it on my Schnauzer."

"Oh, in that case take the lotion," he confidently asserted, "and don't ride a bicycle for at least a week."


;)