Husband wants to get a dog for the family...

mikedavid00

Yeah that's the polar opposite of my logic and reasoning hehehe.. that way of running my life has burt me in huge ways when I was younger.

Good luck with your search.. Eventually you'll get your doggy. It took me 14 years of reading and hoping and praying and waiting for the right time before I got mine hehehe..

Buggzter

Hmmm. Bugle? I'll see what I can find.

And I of COURSE just found a 10-week old puppy... 3000 miles away in California!!!! Aussie/boxer mix just as we're "ideally" gonna find. *sigh*. we will get the right dog. Eventually.

Thanks you guys. I'll get there. I'm going to keep in contact with Bishop and see if they WILL call me if Carly comes back. I doubt she will though, if she's as sweet and loving as she seemed to be. Dunno. But I'm gonna obsess for a few more days over finding my "Bossie" as i think of them... We'll see. (yeah, I've made a name for the mix. any worse than a bugg or chugg?? LOL!)

A weekend of sleeping and I'll be doing better. We'll see how it goes. I have to prep for the move in TWO WEEKS and that is scaring me now... *gulp* I'm kinda glad I don't have to stress about a move AND a new dog, but it would be worth it with the right dog, you know? If it's the RIGHT fit, the perfectly matched dog you've dreamed of, it's worth it to be inconvenienced sometimes for the sake of the dog.

Have a good weekend all!

Buggzter

*bangs head on wall* Found TWO now, a 7 month old babe and I emailed the person to see where they are - I THINK it's Louisianna, which is reachable from here... *cough* *sigh* Gotta think about being prepared first, though... If it's ment to be, it's ment to be.

Dog_Shrink

I just sent you a rather lengthy PM Buggzter

Paulinka18

Ive had a lot of dogs growing up and stumbled across the best dog I've ever owned. Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier. When you think terriers you think barking and digging but that's not the case. These dogs are playful, energetic, friendly with people and kids, and best of all Hypoallergenic (non-shedding). I stumbled across this breed when me and my bf were compromising on a dog. We wanted a non-shedding breed that wasn't a barking cat. The poodle wasn't really an option and these dogs are the perfect size. 30 lbs, not too big and not too small. They're considered perfect apartment dogs because they don't need much room but will use it if they have it.

My dog is extremely intelligent, never pees or poops in the house (taught with discipline) and can go a pretty long time without needing to go to the bathroom. When they're puppies they look like little teddy bears. This is the perfect family dog. I won't ever be getting another breed. The typical pictures do no justice for this dog. If you like you can look at my videos on YouTube by typing Paulina0618 or look on my site fabupet to get an idea of what they look like when cut properly. Good luck and I hope you find your perfect dog!

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Elana55

I have had more than a few dogs and I can only tell you this.. my VERY best dogs found ME. I did not choose them.

My current dog I was at the very beginning of looking for a GSD dog.. and I really had no intention of buying a dog from this person.. but I met the dogs and Atka became mine. She had what I describe as "the look." This is my second German Shepherd.

One of my best PET dogs was Sheba.. a black Lab mix who was dumped on a farm (not my farm) and was preggo. She had 6 puppies and the farmer did not feed her "she is just a stray." Sheba went out and hunted and killed wood chucks and rabbits etc. and she made suer she fed her puppies. When they were weaned this farmer was going to put Sheba down.. and I said, "No. I will take her.." and suddenly I had this dog. There was something about her (plus I admired her ability to think and take care of those puppies).

If I were you and I was looking for a pet dog I would be going to the local shelter and meeting dogs AFTER you are set up at home. The right dog will choose YOU.. and trust me, it will be the most memorable experience. Funny thing is, it may not be any of the breeds you mention or think you want.. but it won't matter because it will be the right dog.

There are lots of Sheba's out there looking for YOU.

mikedavid00

Hey I saw your videos and thanks for that recommendation. We both see eye to eye on what is 'desireable' in a breed.

I think picking a dog just on looks, or just on a hunch can be a mistake.

I would recommend the exact opposite to basically everything above and is probably the worst advice I could give any perspective new dog owner.

That's just my personal opinion of course and it's not worth a lot

But if the dog is 7 months and someone gave it up.. don't you think it likely has behavioral problems that will require a *LOT* of effort to work with?

An Ausie is a herding breed of dog. I saw some videos on them last night and basically it will want to chase and herd a moving leaf or 18 wheeler truck as one dog trainer put it. A boxer can also be hard to handle by its nature. Mixing the two and with the puppy not getting proper training..... man.. it can be more than a handful for you. Especially in an apartment or if you're working...

I'm just trying to reason a bit.

If you don't want a puppy, a whippet/greyhound are readily available, doesn't smell, is litter trained, stays out of trouble, is socialized with other animals as the rescues almost always have cats, and you can pick which one has the temperment you like. I think they are such a good bargain. I would have gotten one but my wife doesn't like the way they look.

I just feel that maybe a herd breed that has been given up at 7 months might have behavioral problems that could be a bit too much.

Elana55

Nothing against Wheaton Terriers at all. Just a note on grooming.. they need a lot of grooming and one of the primary reasons for their turn in at shelters is the grooming needs.

If you do not want a poodle due to grooming needs (and poodles are excellant dogs.. I have had 2) you probably do not want a Wheaton either. If you can deal with the grooming needs then that is not an issue. I would have recommended a poodle but you did indicate you wanted to avoid grooming.

Puppies need a lot of work.. going out to potty etc. on a schedule. I stick by my recommendation to get an older dog and going to SEE dogs and meeting dogs. You might find that one or not, but looking will give you experience.

Get set up FIRST. Parents moved, yourselves moved. You have been w/o a dog for awhile so awhile longer won't hurt anything. Better to do it right than end up wishing you could do it over.

Foyerhawk

I have had multiple Golden Retrievers in a one bedroom apartment. All did fine! They were extremely fit, muscular, active dogs. I have a house now but I have five dogs and a baby. We do just fine. If the dog is a priority in life, then I think it can work out in almost any situation

Greyhounds and Whippets are beautiful and clean and wonderful, lazy pets that don't bark. My Whippet's breeder had free flight birds and her dogs never bothered them. Her German Shepherd did attack one once, but he miraculously survived (an African grey).

I gotta admit I could never suggest a Wheaten. In the past month alone two have growled at my baby (who was sleeping in a stroller and at least ten feet away). I've boarded one and it was the worst, most hyper, OCD, nutty dog I have ever handled (and I've handled hundreds of dogs) with the possible exception of some springers. It would spin in circles in its crate like a lunatic, even after a long run. I find Springers to be the same way. Definitely, IMHO, avoid those two breeds unless you plan to spend five hours a day hiking off leash with your dog. I wouldn't ever have either one with a child, either, especially not a springer. No offense intended, these are just personal experiences. I am glad someone has a wonderful Wheaten. I hope to meet some one day soon that I can enjoy being around.

PandaBear

I dont agree that bichon would fit into this family, bichons generally do not do well with being left alone for long periods, of time. And they require a lots of grooming even on the puppy clip. They are medium energy dog, but they can adopt to any situation. One major reason why bichons are given up is because of potty training. I know many bichons who took up to a year to potty train.

Laurelin

Mike, is this your first dog? I'm just really curious...

I think you have some untrue misconceptions about herding breeds in general. Watching a video is very different from living with them. A 7 month old puppy of any breed is going through the teenage age and yes when dealing with a high energy herding breed they can be handfuls. But so can any other breed, really. Most dogs surrendered at 6-7 months are there because quite rankly their owners were stupid. I've worked with a lot of young bcs and aussies and most were simply in the shelter because their owners didn't have any time to put into them. It's not because they're horrible or have all these issues. A little training and some exercise is all they need.

There is this weird thought that herding breeds (especially bcs) are the most difficult dogs ever and I think much of that is just stereotype. I know a lot of first time owners that do well with these breeds as generally they're extremely handler oriented and WANT to please. No, they're not for everyone, nor are any breeds.

Anyways, I think checking out the shelter is a good place to start. I'd keep breed in mind and characteristics in mind but dogs are individuals, and that is important to remember.

ladyshadowhollyjc

First off, it isn't necessarily true that herding dogs that are rehomed are rehomed because of behavioral issues. And if that is the case, then the person who originally got the dog had no idea what they were getting into.

However, I really think that Buggzter is researching both breeds to see what she could possibly be getting into.

So now let's talk a little about Aussies.
They are highly intelligent and it can get them in trouble. If you don't provide them with something to do, they will provide themselves with something to do. I currently have an Aussie who I now have to keep locked in the house most of the day because a neighbor shot her with a BB gun. She would be pretty upset if I hadn't giving her things to do. Right now we're doing some "training" things. Small things like "bring me this" or "helping" me do laundry. These are things she's never done before (I've had other dogs do them, but not her). Training really is a big part of my life with her. Sometimes we see how long she can hold a sit stay. They don't have to be big things. I do have it easy, for most of the play time I have 2 other dogs she can play with. (p.s. mikedavid, she's never tried to herd them or my cats once)

I will say that they do have a herding instinct. But most Aussies I've met aren't so insane that they try to herd falling leaves. My Aussie, was the puppy out of the litter that first started to try and herd the chickens at 8 weeks old. When we bought her, we were told we'd have our hands full. We knew Aussies though, so it was no problem. We never ever let her get bored as a puppy. Training her was very strict. We never even gave her a chance to start up an obnoxious herding instinct on people. You can't train herding instincts out of a dog, but you can redirect that energy to something else.

Buggzter, if you get an Aussie mix you must remember it is a mix. You have no idea at all what you're really getting. Some mixes are quite obvious, and others keep people guessing. You also will have no idea what traits from which breed your dog will have. Just because it's an Aussie mix doesn't mean it's going to be an obnoxious herding machine. No matter what kind of dog you end up with, start training immediately. Try and leave no room for bad habits to start. And that goes for saying for any dog you end up with... whether it has "behavioral issues" or not.

BooLette

I would just like to point out that just because you get a certain breed of dog does not mean that it is going to act like the standard for its breed. I really think that you just need to go to the shelter and meet different dogs and take your daughter with you.

I also think that an older dog is better. The best dog that I ever had was 4 years old when my husband and I adopted him. He was the sweetest, quietest dog ever. The people on the shelter staff hated him for whatever reason. He was amazing.
When we met him we just knew. I really think that is how it is for most people that adopt from a shelter. I didn't care what mix he was after we took him for a walk and spent some time with him. It really didn't matter because he was gentle and quiet yet alert and playful.

I wish you luck finding that perfect family dog!

Dog_Shrink

Ya know Mikedavid most dogs are in shelters because of owner stupidity not always because of a fault of the dog. If all people held the same beliefs you seem to about shelter dogs then no one would ever get adopted. There are a TON of great dogs in the shelter for no fault of their own and by telling some one that any shelter dog is going to have behavioral problems is selling those poor dogs short. yes any dog that has spent any amount of time in a shelter is going to have issues... more so from the shelter experience than any baggage they came in with and I think that your comments are doing a great dis-service to shelter dogs. Some of the best dogs I've ever worked with are shelter dogs. They are the most appreciative loving dogs. they KNOW they're getting a second chance and thank you for it every day in spades. Maybe some day you'll get one and discover the joys of a shelter reject for yourself.

canteloupe

I think you should reconsider getting a puppy. For inexperienced dog people, puppies and young children really, really don't mix. Puppies are mouthy and easily over-stimulated. How will you handle it if your puppy bites your four year old? It may not be aggression, but it could still break the skin. Adult dogs are easier to train, calmer, and better with children.

So many of the young dogs that show up in shelters get there because families adopted them as puppies, and then they grew into mouthy, pushy, hyperactive, untrained terrors and the family decides they're not safe with the children any more and gets rid of them.

Remember that children can never be left alone with dogs. This goes double for puppies and young dogs. When you are not able to supervise, they will need to be separated. Real life with dogs is not like a sitcom, where dogs are like these idealized best friends/guardians for little kids, and never do anything wrong. In real life, puppies nip, they go to the bathroom on your bed, sometimes they develop behavioral problems, and they need training.

I also want to add that you absolutely can't think of it as a dog for your four year old. It will be completely your dog, even if you turn its arrival into a "present" of sorts for your child. It will be your dog, and your responsibility.

ETA: Boxer? Really? There is variation from dog to dog, but they're usually pretty high energy. By high energy, I mean walks aren't enough, they often need daily runs and other methods to burn energy. Will you be prepared if this is the case?

Terrie

With young children in a household, I would say the dog should at least be a year old. Unless you are prepared to be there the WHOLE time. I give my puppy all my time except when I am at the university and I always feel like I need more time with her.

I have to admit, I'm one of those that underestimated getting a puppy. I was so excited at the time that I went crazy and got the youngest one at the shelter. I love her dearly and she's a wonderful dog but she is A LOT of work and I if I could turn back time I wouldn't pick another puppy because I personally love the work. My boyfriend for example, doesn't really enjoy the work and he was as excited as I was when we got her. He doesn't like taking her for walks and he doesn't like us going out a lone, I have to sneak out for 'potty' breaks sometimes. But anyways, what I'm trying to say is puppies are all cute and everything but for some people, the work(as I call it) gets really old really fast.

Good luck, I hope you find the pup of your dreams

Keechak

I missed where the OP said she was planing to get a puppy. I though she said she was looking for a one year old or older

canteloupe

At the beginning she said that, but then on this page (after carla didn't work out) she's been talking about puppies. (Ten weeks and seven months.)

mikedavid00

I pass a brush through my puppy for maybe 2 min a day and he has no mats or tangles. the grooming is farily low maintance actually. I thought it would be much worse as everyone says. But 2 min. a day is like nothing at all.

I also think that shelter dogs should be left to the pro's or experienced dog owners.

It sounds like she needs a cute little addorable puppy from a breeder so she can have her full experience as an owner as she sound like she might like the whole experience.

Yes I agree! I would still love to have one some day. Maybe my wife will come around and we can get a whippet or greyhound in the future.

I highly, highly recommend them for any average dog owner who wants to adopt a dog.

canteloupe

Huh? You do realize that most of those dogs at the shelter are or were "cute little adorable puppies from breeders," right? There is no fundamental difference between shelter dogs and other dogs. Most dogs at shelters are simply dogs whose owners couldn't keep them, for one reason or another.

Assuming that dogs at shelters are somehow damaged, or automatically more work than dogs from breeders is wrong-headed.

Above all, dogs at shelters are individuals. Each one is different, and comes from different circumstances. You can't make assumptions about them as a group, because each one is unique and has unique needs.

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