Should I adopt a dog?

Tombstone · Post by **Tombstone** » Thu Sep 02, 2004 4:45 pm

Getting a new dog is almost like having a baby! Lots of time and commitment!

That's why cats are cool.

I love dogs. But once you get one, they can change your schedule pretty drastically.

Tombstone · Post by **Tombstone** » Thu Sep 02, 2004 5:02 pm

We just got our second dog. Love him a lot. Actually, since we already had one - what is one more?!

capt_buzzard · Post by **capt_buzzard** » Fri Sep 03, 2004 2:15 am

You can take a dog anywhere,at least anywhere in Ireland. A dog is a Man's Best Friend, (after the wife of course) we learned many years ago. I take my dog everywhere with me even on the scooter :wah: And for those long walks in the Dublin/Wicklow hills she's a great companion. Great company. If I lived where you are Tombstone,I would have two or more dogs. Go on be a sport.

Wren · Post by **Wren** » Tue Sep 07, 2004 12:48 pm

I used to work in the pet supply field for 9 years, so I feel equipped to answer your question. Since the puppy you speak of is a Labrador Retriever, I would say "Sure...go for it!" These are one of the best breeds to have around cats and children alike. They are sweet, gentle and playful and I have even seen cats sleeping next to this breed.

It may be a bit of an adjustment in the beginning, as your cats might feel threatened; however, if you give your cats love and attention, letting them see that the new puppy is not a threat, rather, an addition to your family, things should be just great.

Hope that helps.

rachelg · Post by **rachelg** » Sat Oct 09, 2004 5:57 pm

HI,

I'm new to this forum, but since I raise and show dogs (American Cockers), this is a question I can answer.

Any ethical breeder will sell you a dog and agree to take it back within an agreed upon time if it proves to not be a satifactory pet. Ask your friend to allow you to try the dog and see how the cats accept it, as well as how you like having a dog. Labs have great temperaments, but they tend to stay puppies for up to three years. I once adopted an innocent looking black lab who was in the pound (the most common breed in the pound is Labrador) and she was "destructo-dog"! She ate 2 garden hoses, a spare tire, about 1/4 of my wood pile, the corn that was for my chickens, every nylabone I gave her, and a lot more. She also was an escape artist and dug under my fence and let everyone else out too. It took me years to find someone who wanted to adopt her from me, and by that time (she was 4) she was just beginning to settle down.

valerie · Post by **valerie** » Sat Nov 27, 2004 9:37 pm

Just a hint: A tired pup is a good pup. If you're able, there are very few

behavior problems that can't be cured with lots of exercise. A lot of the more

intelligent breeds (Border Collies, Labs, Shepherds) need either jobs to do

or a lot of "road work". Rack up the miles with them and the rest of the day

they spend zonked out on the couch!!

And as a GSD owner/lover, I hafta say that I like their personalities on the

whole much better than any other breed. They are what you make of them,

and mine is a sweetie and protective when she needs to be. I had many

labs as a child (took care of them for a neighbor who went away to dog

shows occasionally) and while I do love them, the shepherds all around are

much more to my liking. Labs may bark but they are bred to have "soft"

mouths and usually will welcome the bad guy in and point him towards the

color tv!

My husband and I take our shepherd pretty much everywhere with us,

heck she even went on our wedding trip with us to Lake Tahoe.

Okay, I'll get off my soapbox!

rachelg · Post by **rachelg** » Sun Nov 28, 2004 9:09 am

Hi Valerie,

The reason there are more than 120 AKC breeds is that different dog breeds suit different people's lifestyles and needs. I think Labs would be great for someone with a lot of kids or someone very active. The arthritis in my hip doesn't allow for "roadwork". the reason I fenced in my yard was for the dogs to get exercise and since my Lab insisted on digging under it and letting everyone out, she had to be tied. That is the reason I placed her. I just can't stand to see a dog tied up and she left me with no option. Inside the house, she was like an elephant. The cockers are the best breed for me. I turn them out and they will fetch the tennis ball until my arm drops off if I want. They play together and get good exercise. I set up a grooming table in front of the TV and keep their coats in show shape. They are good in the house and are just the right size to sit on your lap. The sheer number of Labs in the pound during the couple of weeks I was looking for a larger breed to patrol my yard shows that they aren't the breed for a good number of people. I'm not condeming the breed. I just think people should not jump blindly into ownership of any dog, and there are drawbacks to every breed. My breed, Cockers require a lot of grooming. While I enjoy it, my experience as a dog groomer showed me that many people don't, can't or won't groom and shouldn't probably have gotten a cocker. I think a lot of what becomes animal abuse started with aquiring the wrong pet for your lifestyle, and my reason for my original post was just an example for the man wanting a Lab puppy to hear, in case he didn't want such an active breed.

A Karenina · Post by **A Karenina** » Sun Nov 28, 2004 11:14 am

plazul wrote: Anyway, just thought I'd throw that out to see what your favorite breed of dog is.
Golden Retriever. They are highly intelligent, sweet, gentle, protective, and large enough that you can wrestle with them.

I think they are one of the most beautiful dogs around, although they do require a good bit of grooming.

I like Labs a lot, too. Very sweet, very good looking dogs.

As for the cats, I think they would be jealous at first. I've been reading about it lately because I've been thinking of adopting a second cat (full grown, from the Humane Society - I have no energy for kittens, cute as they are!).

Anyway, the advice I've read so far is to make sure the cat's area remains his/hers. If your cats own the sofa, then they still own the sofa when the puppy comes to live with you. Never scold the cats for hissing and being - well, cat-like. LOL. They'll get over it if you assure them of your love, but it takes time. Much like bringing a new baby home, I think.

Best of luck! Puppies are so exciting!

Gabs · Post by **Gabs** » Sun Nov 28, 2004 12:24 pm

Definately a YES to adopting a dog. I am a dog lover...any kind of dog... but my favorite are BOston Terriers. I have three. Two of them were adopted from the REscue service I am a member of.

My Bostons are the larger of the breed, weighing in at 30 lbs. each. They are good with my grandchildren, and very well behaved in general. The two who were rescues were the ones we worked with on the behavior since they were grown when they came to us, but the other was raised with us as a puppy and everyone including his vet, says he is the best behaved dog they have ever been around...since my husband and I were married later in life, after our kids were all grown (previous relationships) our dogs are our children...

enough of that

Please checkout my siggie line. It explains it all.

Gabs~~

valerie · Post by **valerie** » Sun Nov 28, 2004 4:13 pm

rachelg wrote: Hi Valerie,

The reason there are more than 120 AKC breeds is that different dog breeds suit different people's lifestyles and needs. I think Labs would be great for someone with a lot of kids or someone very active. The arthritis in my hip doesn't allow for "roadwork". the reason I fenced in my yard was for the dogs to get exercise and since my Lab insisted on digging under it and letting everyone out, she had to be tied. That is the reason I placed her. I just can't stand to see a dog tied up and she left me with no option. Inside the house, she was like an elephant. The cockers are the best breed for me. I turn them out and they will fetch the tennis ball until my arm drops off if I want. They play together and get good exercise. I set up a grooming table in front of the TV and keep their coats in show shape. They are good in the house and are just the right size to sit on your lap. The sheer number of Labs in the pound during the couple of weeks I was looking for a larger breed to patrol my yard shows that they aren't the breed for a good number of people. I'm not condeming the breed. I just think people should not jump blindly into ownership of any dog, and there are drawbacks to every breed. My breed, Cockers require a lot of grooming. While I enjoy it, my experience as a dog groomer showed me that many people don't, can't or won't groom and shouldn't probably have gotten a cocker. I think a lot of what becomes animal abuse started with aquiring the wrong pet for your lifestyle, and my reason for my original post was just an example for the man wanting a Lab puppy to hear, in case he didn't want such an active breed.

If you'll re-read my post, I believe I said "If you're able"... I had no way of

knowing that you weren't.

I don't think Plazul was "jumping blindly" into anything... he was asking what

people's favorite breeds are. I told him.

I wanted to tell him that you CAN take a dog along, and he said he had known

"aggressive" shepherds so I tried to show that there are a lot who aren't.

"A friend who has puppies" is a red flag to me, so I don't know if giving the dog

back would be an option. Sounds like a BYB to me.

I was a groomer for many years (poodles) so I know what that's like. I love

many breeds of the 120. Even though the grooming is a bit much for a GSD,

also, (they don't call them German Shedders fer nuthin') it is a small price to

pay for all the rest that I get from my girl. When my girl goes to doggie heaven,

I will be getting an adult rescue GSD. I think I can safely say I will ALWAYS

have a GSD.

Plazul, you might try to get your hands on a copy of "The Intelligence of

Dogs" by Stanley Coren. It has a list ranking dogs in order of

Obedience and Working Intelligence.

rachelg · Post by **rachelg** » Sun Nov 28, 2004 7:17 pm

In my opinion, you can't really generalize the personality of any breed. Having shown and bred cockers and been involved with the breed since the late "70, I have found smart ones, dumb ones, hyper ones, lazy ones, sweet ones, bad tempered ones, outgoing ones and shy ones. I think if you knew enough specimens of any breed, you'd likely find this to be true of any of them. The main things you can count on are appearance and the health issues to watch for that are breed problems.

As far as the book you referred to, I can hardly endorse it. It generalizes too much, in my opinion and equates intelligence too much with williness to obey. I don't think obedience and intelligence are necessarily the same. As for the problem-solving capability, I believe the animal would need to be interested in the problem to attempt to solve it. When the book first came out I saw a demonstration on a talk show (can't remember which one) with several breeds. The one Mr. Cohen placed last was the Afghan Hound so they had one on there. The dog was led near the food placed under a blanket (or something like that) and when let go, it took off, doing what the breed is bred for - running. I've shown and finished several Afghans in my past and consider them to be more intelligent than many humans, let alone other dogs. They just have a lack of interest in things they don't consider beneficial or interesting to them. I noticed that Labs were pretty high up on his list, but mine was so hyper that it tooks months to even teach her the sit command, which most of my dogs have learned the first lesson. I expect that most Labs are easier to train than the girl I had.

Oh well, I noticed after the original post that the fellow had adopted the Lab puppy long before I replied anyway. The reason I used the word "ethical" where I did was to clue him in that maybe this wasn't the case. I hope it all worked out, and it probably will. :-6

valerie · Post by **valerie** » Sun Nov 28, 2004 9:50 pm

You are, of course, entitled to your opinion, but you are mistaken in thinking

I was trying to generalize about any breed. I have had dogs for all of my

52 years, and I know individuals can occur in any breed. I used to raise

Siberian Huskies, far down on Cohen's list at 45. Loved them but would

never own one again. I wasn't looking for you to endorse the book, I was

throwing it out there as possibly of interest to Plazul or anyone else thinking

of getting a dog.

And I have to say... I know of NO dumb GSD's. Not a single one. I find it

extemely sad to believe you can only count on appearance and health

problems. (This is not to generalize and say there ARE none, just that

I know lots and don't know any dumb ones, so at least the incidence

must be very low!)

Months to teach a lab to sit? I wouldn't spend months teaching any dog

to sit. In the unlikely event I couldn't teach even an Afghan Hound to sit, I

would hike my butt to a professional trainer.

I must have missed the post where Plazul said he had adopted the dog.

Last thing I read, he only said he was "giving it some serious thought".

I am glad you seem to enjoy your cocker spaniels. Plazul asked, of course

tell him your experience, just like the rest of us have.

Yes, "different breeds suit different people's lifestyles and needs". That is

why I got a GSD instead of one of the 2 higher breeds on the list, Border

Collie or Poodle.

But think of this, there are no cocker spaniels at Guide Dogs For the Blind.

All of those dogs have to be smart enough to practice "intelligent

disobedience"... i.e., if the blind person gives them the command "Forward"

and there's a big hole in front of him, the dogs have to be smart enough

to ignore the command.

rachelg · Post by **rachelg** » Sun Nov 28, 2004 10:17 pm

Seems to me that you're in the mood to argue. I like to argue too. When I said you can't generalize the personality of a breed, I actually didn't mean you specifically, but anyone in general shouldn't. I was leading up to my opinion of the book you mentioned. I think it could give people unrealistic expectations about certain breeds or cause them to overlook the right breed for them. Depending on your needs, obedience is only one factor in dog ownership, and it may not be the most important one. It isn't to me, at least. I place good temperament first, then health, then conformation, and then trainability. I've only personally known two GSD's in my life so can't say I know much about them. One was put down for attacking children, the fault of the owner who should never had a dog she couldn't control and let get out of hand. The other was unfortuately kept in a kennel till she was 7 mos old. I took her on to show, but she was scared of her own shadow, and not suited for showing, although very nice looking. I'm not out to compare breeds for intelligence or purpose. I am thankfully, not blind and hope never to need a guide dog. I think one requirement of a guide dog other than trainability is probably enough size to stop a human from stepping into traffic (which cockers are not, and they are by the way a bird dog). The reason I kept working with my Lab was in hopes that obedience would make her more desireable to someone as a pet since I was hoping to find her a home. I did place her with some nice people in Michigan and last I heard, she was doing well.

rachelg · Post by **rachelg** » Mon Nov 29, 2004 5:48 am

One other thing, about teaching an Afghan Hound to sit. I didn't need to. Both learned to sit by observing the cockers. They are great imitators and are capable of figuring out for themselves that if the cockers were being given treats for sitting that they would do the same thing. Show training them was often by taking a trained dog out with the puppy and leading them together. Trying to force an Afghan puppy to walk on a lead can be very frustrating and may make your neigbors think you're killing it. They can have an unearthly scream. I would not recommend an Afghan for many people but if you prefer cats to dogs, the temperament and personality can be more similar than that of other dogs. I've only known about eight of them, so I can't say I'm an expert on them whereas I've probably known over a hundred cockers between mine, the ones I showed for other people and the ones belonging to friends. :-6

valerie · Post by **valerie** » Mon Nov 29, 2004 10:48 am

honest voice · Post by **honest voice** » Fri Sep 23, 2005 1:26 pm

German shephard's are great dogs. All dogs are superb. I qould get a dog if i were you . He'll soon live happily with the cats. Before you know it, he'll be protecting them.