Question about potential adoption - the more opnions the better!

keeper130

I am considering adopting an 8 month old Lab/ Pit / Beagle mix. I am the loving father of two kitties, and am about to turn 25 years old. I work a steady job (but am considering law school). I met this dog, and after meeting thousands of dogs, I am pretty sure I instantly clicked with her for the first time. I went back and saw her 3 times, and my feelings only grew stronger. This coupled with a few medical benefits (for me) have pushed this decision to be very difficult. (The dog has been 'cat tested' and got the thumbs up from the SPCA)

I do currently work for a big four firm which has me out of the home from 730 – 6:00. There are a few problems, my GF is a bit apprehensive because she has 1 cat, is 3 cats and 1 dog too much? Also, she is a bit apprehensive about the Pit mix: the folks at the shelter don’t even consider Mattie a dominant breed, and say she is an amazingly sweet dog, any thoughts there, my research indicates that the reputation pits carry is due to the American media. My place is about 1600 square feet, and I live off the Chesapeake bay, and a creek (the dog apparently loves to swim).

What are your objective opinions on the dog, the amount of animals I would have, etc. I am 100% confident I could take care of this dog, but need to get some third-party opinions and see what everyone else thinks!

Pepper

If you say you can care for the dog than you can, I'm glad you made such a good connection with her =D

And there is nothing wrong with her having pitt in her, your girlfriend just decides to believe all the stereotypes that anything to do with a pitbull is mean or dominating. You need to have her come meet the dog too, and see that they are nice.

And if you bring the dog home and for some reason does not get along with your cats after a couple weeks or a month or so then it just doesn't work out.

Good luck =D

TeddieXRuxpin

I would first see if the dog has been tested with cats. I know several pits and pit mixes that have best friends that are cats. If she already doesn't like cats it could be a bit hard to turn that around.

She sounds like an interesting collection of breeds; I bet she's a gorgeous dog! There are a lot of things to consider when getting a dog. I would ask more about the dogs personality and find out what her living arrangments are. Is this a non profit rescue and is she in a foster home? If she is you have some one to ask a lot more questions to. If she's in a shelter I'd find out who spends the most time with her.

I am fostering a Bully right now and he loves my sisters ferrets; they're like cats... He lays with them, lets them bite him, but could of course never be left alone with them. Only because he would want to play play play. My problem wouldn't be the fact she's a pit; they're are so many wonderful dogs that are bullies. My biggest question right now would be has she been tested around cats? And what was her response?

With Britches alone I could post plenty of pictures of him being a fantastic dog. Pit or not. He loves kids, lives with four other dogs, plays with ferrets, swims, takes naps in bed, gives kisses all the time, plays fetch and catch, he's a HUGE baby.

I'm glad you found this girl she is very lucky. Keep us updated on your decison. BTW welcome to DF.

keeper130

I love the responses! I would love everyones opinion. What are your thoughts on the eventual 3 cats and 1 dog? Anyone have a mix like this, does it make me one of those crazy guys .

Apparently she loves dogs, and is extremley sweet. She is at the SPCA, but I met her outside ofa petsmart. I sat on the ground and she walked into my lap rolled on her back and crossed her paws!!!

I think my GF may be a bit concerned that it is going to hurt our relationship, we are both in a transitional phase with some things in life right now, I kind of believe it will help our relationship, we will go on more walks, go outside more often, maybe have a better reason to go on picnics, etc. Does anyone have any experience getting a new dog while dealing with a budidng rleationship (2 years), and budding life?

Hope these questions arent too corney, just wanted to get everyones thoughts.

Pepper

I think 3 cats and one dog is fine. As long as they all get a long it should be fine, maybe they will let you bring your cats in to see if they get a long.

I've never heard of that mix, what does she look like?

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keeper130

FilleBelle

Get the dog because YOU want the dog, not because it will help your relationship with your girlfriend.

I would be wary of getting a dog during a transitional period in my life.

ETA: I was posting while you were posting. She's too cute!

keeper130

It is more of a transitional period in HER life, I am pretty well established at my job almost 2 years, the issue is I am considering law school, with that said a few thousand dollars on top of the 120k worth of loans may not be too terrible considering the joys i think this will bring. I feel bad if I put too much on her (the gf)!

That and our rents probably think I am crazy!

Sakura77

I can't help you with how the dog will get along with current pets. I'm always a fan of animal adoption so long as the dog is a good family fit...

as for law school, I say don't go It's not worth the debt. But I just took day 1 of the bar exam (day 2 tomorrow) so...

If you do end up in law school, an animal is a nice thing to have. You can't go to law school thinking you have no life. A ton of people got a dog during our first year. It's actually an easy time to get a dog because your schedule, although crammed, is flexible and you can design it mostly the way you want it. An animal does wonders for stress relief too.

We are bringing home our puppy on Friday and finish the bar exam tomorrow. We adopted our two cats during the fall of our third year, despite knowing that we would be moving across the country.

keeper130

:-D I am aiming to get into a top 20 school! Crossing my fingers.

FiftyFour83

I just adopted a dog about 3 weeks ago and I have two cats. My two cats hissed at him like crazy for first couple days. They still don't like eachother but they have accepted the fact that they must coexist together. I'm just very happy they never physically fight.

Your schedule sounds pretty busy. Will your new dog be an indoor pet? If so, will you or your gf be able to handle the housetraining? Housetraning takes CONSTANT watching. I work only part-time and my boyfriend is on his summer hiatus from school, but we are still having a tough time keeping up with watching him.

And I would also recommend that you and your gf be on the same page regarding how to raise/train the dog. It's been a little difficult for me and my boyfriend to train our dog Tofu because my method is very "by-the-book". My boyfriend on the other hand, is "don't worry, he'll eventually learn" We sometimes clash because he thinks I'm too uptight.

keeper130

The pooch is mostly housebroken according to the shelter. She will be crated when I am not home, and the GF has left training the responsibility of me. With that bein said, I plan on having a VERY well behaved and obedient dog.

MegaMuttMom

I am NOT in a budding relationship (I have been married for 22 years). But, getting our dog has brought us closer for some of those reasons you said. We walk together, we share stories of or dog, we just love to be taking care of something new together. (It can be a good predictor of how you would do parenting children together) I think having 3 cats and a dog does not sound crazy at all. We have 2 kids, one cat, one dog, and a fish tank full of fish. When the dog first came home we also had a guinea pig and a hedgehog (may they both rest in peace). No problem here

The only problem I see, is the girlfriend saying all the training is up to you. It really helps if anyone dealing with the dog sees training as a part of everyday life and an important part of the relationship you have with a dog. The dog needs to be able to listen to her as well as you. Plus, it is hard not to love a dog that you have worked with in training. It really is a huge bonding thing.

Our dog was stated to be good with cats and it turns out that he is. But, he was good with cats that stood still. Our cat teases and RUNS. So, we had to work with him and make sure he wasn't chasing to kill. It took a good 6 months for the dog and cat to work out their relationship, along with us doing training with the dog to show him what was acceptable behavior. So, don't be surprised if the reality is different than what was seen at the shelter.

I hope you are able to rescue this dog. Good luck.

MarleyandMe

There are now bad dogs, only bad owners. Yeah, pits are banned in some parts of the u.s, but it's only because of how they are bread and treated. The dogs that attack and bite children, clearly- arnt lovling pitbulls.

and as a child i was bitten by a dog feircly in the face, and it wasn't a pitbull, and it was being provoked by my brother and i still LOVE dogs. any dog can be violant. not just one that is beefy. If you want your dog to be sweet and you take care of her and raise her in a sweet, loving, non aggressive enviorment, then she will be.

Plus, lookie her face, how can any one doubt that smile?

poodleholic

I fostered a lab/pitt mix for 3 months, along with a Pom and a cat, all of whom had lived together. I had 2 Standard Poodles, a Shih Tzu and 2 cats, all of whom are very social and used to having foster dogs and cats come and go. The lab/pitt mix was a sweetheart, and very loving to HER Pom and cat, but tried to kill my dogs and cats every chance she got. Sigh. It was a lot of work for me, but, the family had nowhere else to keep her pets until she moved to a new place, so I did what I had to do to keep them separated, while still ensuring everyone got plenty of attention and affection. I actually missed that girl when she left (but was also relieved)! MORE work than I was up for! LOL

I say give it a try. Just be sure to be in control over the dog at all times during the introductory phase, and under supervision for a good time after. It can, and most likely will work. People do get freaked out over pitts, and have no understanding of the breed at all.

MistRiver

I don't know anything about pitbulls but I have 5 cats and two dogs and while there is definitely an adjustment period (around two months for any new addition in my home) after that everyone gets along just fine. Heck all five cats and my dogs will run up together and stare at me when it's dinner time.

CinnamintStick

I have 7 dogs and 5 cats. I they get along fine. My sister did have a her own 3 year old rott kill her cat. They always got along before. As much as I hate to say this, I too would be afaird of a pit bull mix. I am sure they are plenty of nice pit bull mixes out there but the fact is there is some risk that I would rather not take.

From http://www.americanhumane.org/site/P...nimal_dog_bite

Every 40 seconds someone in the United States seeks medical attention for a dog bite-related injury.
Dog attacks cause 4.5 million injuries annually, 800,000 of which require medical attention.
At least 25 different breeds of dogs have been involved in the 238 dog bite-related fatalities in the United States.
Pit bulls and rottweilers account for over half of these deaths.
24% of human deaths involve unrestrained dogs off of their owners' property.
58% of human deaths involved unrestrained dogs on their owners' property.

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