Tell me about dogs :D

[Sputterduck]

I am going to get a puppy since we are moving to a place with room!

I am stuck between a husky, german shepherd, lab, or golden retriever. Pros and cons here?

What do I need to look for in a puppy, personality-wise?

With my last doggy, that I got in junior high, I did a personality test with her and she passed with flying colors. I actually got her because she did better that the other puppies. However, she was the dumbest dog I've ever known. I loved her, but boy was she dumb. She failed beginner obedience class. After taking that twice they let her go into intermediate. After all that she knew "sit", "down", and *heel* all incorrectly. Well, she would do those randomly when you were giving commands. The trainers didn't know what to do with her. They'd never met a dog that couldn't even get the basics.

I want a smart, trainable dog that will be loyal to the family, but not overly loyal so that he is aggressive to my friends and extended family. My dad had a problem with an over-protective dog as a kid.

It also needs to be cool in the wilderness because I'll be taking him camping and fishing.

Is there a trend in personalities with male vs female dogs? I definitely notice a trend in cats. Should I get male or female?

What about submissiveness vs dominance? How can you tell with puppies?

What do I need to know to train the dog properly? I want to do it correctly from the start. I've never house trained a puppy before. I've always had outside dogs, never inside.

Any other advice?

[GirlsMama]

The smartest dog is the Border Collie. Look them up :)

[SingingMom]

Go get some books on obedience. Hit the library if possible. Find an approach that sounds good to you.

Do you have lots and lots of time that you can spend with a puppy? House training is ridiculously easy if you are with the dog most of the day.

I think crate training is a great idea. It's comforting and feels safe to the dog. But it must be done well!

Most dogs are not "over-protective". They have a mistaken idea of who is dominant in the family. It should not be the dog...

You'll find lots of good ideas on handling and choosing puppies. Here's my unsolicited, general advice.

Do NOT buy a long flexi-leash, unless you only plan to use it during recall training or other obedience exercises. If you are not already knowledgeable about puppy training, the flexi-leash will tempt you to let the dog "play".

The dog will get far more out of being on a short leash with you EVERY time you take him out. He will learn that he ALWAYS has to stay with you. He ALWAYS has to pay attention to you, no matter how interesting the smells or other dogs or rodents or whatever. You will be the universe. This is good.

It is tempting to exercise your puppy by letting him run off leash or on a long leash. (In the back yard is fine, just not on walks!) I don't think this is a good idea. It is too easy to let the dog set the pace and the direction. You must be in charge, and you must set the direction. Walk confidently. Let the dog know that everything is fine, because you are in charge.

If you plan to take a dog into the wilderness, you will want a well-trained, obedient dog who doesn't roam away from your side. It's not safe for the dog (snakes! Bears!) and most parks frown on off-leash dogs. Most hikers will not enjoy sharing the wilderness with dog poop, barking, or bad canine behavior.

Teaching a puppy simple tricks helps reinforce the whole obedience idea. And kids can give trick commands, helping the dog understand his place in the family structure.

[newmominct]

I am jealous I wish I could get another puppy!
I have lots of dog experience.. here is what I know about the following breeds:

husky: strong willed, but SMART let me tell you! They're easily trainable but need to be shown a reason for following a command! These kind of dogs get bored easily and could tear apart the house when youre not around if not properly stimulated!

German Shepard: laid back and smart smart smart... very loyal and
protective. Some german shepards can get aggressive inappropriately when they want to be protective. Since they are working dogs they like to shave a job to do and need exercise.

Lab- HIGH ENERY puppy!!! but very rewarding pet. They're obviously smart but need a lot of attention and exercise.

Golden- like the lab! Im not as familiar with goldens as I am the other dogs but I understand they are awfully similar to labs.

[newmominct]

Go get some books on obedience. Hit the library if possible. Find an approach that sounds good to you.

Do you have lots and lots of time that you can spend with a puppy? House training is ridiculously easy if you are with the dog most of the day.

I think crate training is a great idea. It's comforting and feels safe to the dog. But it must be done well!

Most dogs are not "over-protective". They have a mistaken idea of who is dominant in the family. It should not be the dog...

You'll find lots of good ideas on handling and choosing puppies. Here's my unsolicited, general advice.

Do NOT buy a long flexi-leash, unless you only plan to use it during recall training or other obedience exercises. If you are not already knowledgeable about puppy training, the flexi-leash will tempt you to let the dog "play".

The dog will get far more out of being on a short leash with you EVERY time you take him out. He will learn that he ALWAYS has to stay with you. He ALWAYS has to pay attention to you, no matter how interesting the smells or other dogs or rodents or whatever. You will be the universe. This is good.

It is tempting to exercise your puppy by letting him run off leash or on a long leash. (In the back yard is fine, just not on walks!) I don't think this is a good idea. It is too easy to let the dog set the pace and the direction. You must be in charge, and you must set the direction. Walk confidently. Let the dog know that everything is fine, because you are in charge.

If you plan to take a dog into the wilderness, you will want a well-trained, obedient dog who doesn't roam away from your side. It's not safe for the dog (snakes! Bears!) and most parks frown on off-leash dogs. Most hikers will not enjoy sharing the wilderness with dog poop, barking, or bad canine behavior.

Teaching a puppy simple tricks helps reinforce the whole obedience idea. And kids can give trick commands, helping the dog understand his place in the family structure.


ITA with all of this!
:)
These are our main rules and guidelines with Dozer and he is a model dog :)

[SingingMom]

Border collies are high energy, intelligent dogs who need A LOT of exercise, every day. Is that in your life?

Shepherds, labs, and retrievers are all excellent dogs- when they grow up. They are high energy, active, challenging puppies.

My personal favorite is the poodle. Smart, pleasant, strong dogs with, in general, a temperament that aims to please.

But there are many, many excellent dog breeds. And mutts are good too.

A shelter rescue might also be a good choice. You can get a dog who doesn't chew (because he isn't teething), is already house-trained, and, in many areas, is already good with beginning obedience. And the shelter workers can help with personality assessments.

[Becca75]

I second Singing Mom's idea on the shelter dog. Both of ours are "pound puppies" and they are fantastic dogs. We have a collie/golden retriever/? mix and a chocolate lab/pit mix.

I'd also recommend reading one of the Dog Whisperer's books (Cesar Millan). Very easy to understand (treat your dog like a dog, not a person) and very quick results. Our older dog showed signs of dominance around my younger son when we first got him, but using Cesar's approach worked almost immediately. Not a problem since.

[Sputterduck]

Go get some books on obedience. Hit the library if possible. Find an approach that sounds good to you.

Do you have lots and lots of time that you can spend with a puppy? House training is ridiculously easy if you are with the dog most of the day.

I think crate training is a great idea. It's comforting and feels safe to the dog. But it must be done well!

Most dogs are not "over-protective". They have a mistaken idea of who is dominant in the family. It should not be the dog...

You'll find lots of good ideas on handling and choosing puppies. Here's my unsolicited, general advice.

Do NOT buy a long flexi-leash, unless you only plan to use it during recall training or other obedience exercises. If you are not already knowledgeable about puppy training, the flexi-leash will tempt you to let the dog "play".

The dog will get far more out of being on a short leash with you EVERY time you take him out. He will learn that he ALWAYS has to stay with you. He ALWAYS has to pay attention to you, no matter how interesting the smells or other dogs or rodents or whatever. You will be the universe. This is good.

It is tempting to exercise your puppy by letting him run off leash or on a long leash. (In the back yard is fine, just not on walks!) I don't think this is a good idea. It is too easy to let the dog set the pace and the direction. You must be in charge, and you must set the direction. Walk confidently. Let the dog know that everything is fine, because you are in charge.

If you plan to take a dog into the wilderness, you will want a well-trained, obedient dog who doesn't roam away from your side. It's not safe for the dog (snakes! Bears!) and most parks frown on off-leash dogs. Most hikers will not enjoy sharing the wilderness with dog poop, barking, or bad canine behavior.

Teaching a puppy simple tricks helps reinforce the whole obedience idea. And kids can give trick commands, helping the dog understand his place in the family structure.


Yes, we have lots of time. All day actually.

Okay. I will get a short leash. :)

I know to let the dog know I'm in charge. I've been watching a lot of It's Me or the Dog lately.

I would like to let my dog off the leash once he is trained. Our wilderness won't be in a park. It'll be our back yard and west to a river that we can walk to and fish. We will likely be the only people ever there. When we go to a park, I'll make sure to follow leash rules. I've seen those magic dogs that behave without leashes. How do I do that?

I'll teach my son to do tricks with him. That'll be a good way to involve my son. :)

Thank you so much for your advice. I really want to do this right from the start.

[Sputterduck]

I am jealous I wish I could get another puppy!
I have lots of dog experience.. here is what I know about the following breeds:

husky: strong willed, but SMART let me tell you! They're easily trainable but need to be shown a reason for following a command! These kind of dogs get bored easily and could tear apart the house when youre not around if not properly stimulated!

German Shepard: laid back and smart smart smart... very loyal and
protective. Some german shepards can get aggressive inappropriately when they want to be protective. Since they are working dogs they like to shave a job to do and need exercise.

Lab- HIGH ENERY puppy!!! but very rewarding pet. They're obviously smart but need a lot of attention and exercise.

Golden- like the lab! Im not as familiar with goldens as I am the other dogs but I understand they are awfully similar to labs.


Thank you!

My dad's dog that was too protective was a german shepherd. My dad's professional baby picture is with that dog. He was so loved but too protective almost dangerous. They finally had to put him down because he wouldn't stop killing chickens. :(

[Sputterduck]

I second Singing Mom's idea on the shelter dog. Both of ours are "pound puppies" and they are fantastic dogs. We have a collie/golden retriever/? mix and a chocolate lab/pit mix.

I'd also recommend reading one of the Dog Whisperer's books (Cesar Millan). Very easy to understand (treat your dog like a dog, not a person) and very quick results. Our older dog showed signs of dominance around my younger son when we first got him, but using Cesar's approach worked almost immediately. Not a problem since.


I've been looking at the local shelter sites and one actually had a baby girl german shepherd right now. She's so cute!

I've seen Cesar's show and he seems really good. I'll get some of his books. :D

[dalurker]

Just remember, the smarter the dog, the more likely you are to have a dog that gets into trouble (so to speak). That's usually when people take on more dog than they can handle. For example, the people who take on a Border Collie or Australian Shepherd and expect it to be a couch potato in a confined space. They are the dogs who don't live simply to please you, but like or actually need to be able to exercise not only their bodies, but their minds. That means that if they aren't well exercised and stimulated, they'll find their own activities and they may not be activities you approve of. I don't do a lot of rigorous exercising and my lifestyle is pretty laid back, so lazy dogs work for me. I have some pretty smart breeds, but they're old dogs instead of puppies. I only like puppies when they belong to other people.

Also, how do you feel about hair? The breeds you've mentioned are some pretty hairy, sheddy breeds, particularly the Husky and GSD.

Of the three choices, I think the Golden Retriever is generally the better bet for a good family companion and a fairly new dog owner. They're generally smart, loyal and (ideally) friendly. Huskies can be challenging even for experienced Husky owners and GSDs often really need to be able to work, too. Are you open to going to the shelter to see if there is a puppy or dog there you might click with? Puppies and dogs in shelters are a dime a dozen and you can get them in a wide array of breeds and breed mixes, sizes and colors.

Since you have a small child, I'd outright avoid any of those flexi-leashes. Lots of injuries with those, but they're not meant to be used as training tools to begin with. They're more for the training graduate. Still, if I had a small child around, I'd avoid them altogether.

[GirlsMama]

Dalurker hit the nail on the head. Our dog is a Border Collie/Queensland Healer/McNab, and she is smart. She has a couple problems that could have been prevented if we'd gotten her as a puppy or if anyone took the time to train her. She can escape from anything so the poor dog has to be tied inside our fenced in yard. Also, she has separation anxiety, if we leave her alone inside our house she behaves now, but she used to chew things.

I am not a dog person honestly, I like cats better because they don't need as much work. I wish my dh would have stepped up with this dog and trained her as he's the one who wanted a dog. If you get a dog make sure someone in your family has time to properly train it.

[Flutterby]

I would go to the shelter and spend some time with different dogs. Honestly, I would never do another puppy (unless dh EVER lets me get a purebred Standard Poodle lol!). We are in the middle of raising a lab/pit mix 6 month old puppy (adopted from the humane society). She loves everyone and every dog she comes across, but man, puppies are hard and time consuming. She still has accidents in the house (mainly because things get really hectic right in the morning as the kids are going to school, and again when they come home!) because I am not watching her like a hawk lol!

If you do get a puppy, a crate is a must. Also, I would look into obedience classes. I've never done it before and am going to be doing it with my girl.

[Sputterduck]

Just remember, the smarter the dog, the more likely you are to have a dog that gets into trouble (so to speak). That's usually when people take on more dog than they can handle. For example, the people who take on a Border Collie or Australian Shepherd and expect it to be a couch potato in a confined space. They are the dogs who don't live simply to please you, but like or actually need to be able to exercise not only their bodies, but their minds. That means that if they aren't well exercised and stimulated, they'll find their own activities and they may not be activities you approve of. I don't do a lot of rigorous exercising and my lifestyle is pretty laid back, so lazy dogs work for me. I have some pretty smart breeds, but they're old dogs instead of puppies. I only like puppies when they belong to other people.

Also, how do you feel about hair? The breeds you've mentioned are some pretty hairy, sheddy breeds, particularly the Husky and GSD.

Of the three choices, I think the Golden Retriever is generally the better bet for a good family companion and a fairly new dog owner. They're generally smart, loyal and (ideally) friendly. Huskies can be challenging even for experienced Husky owners and GSDs often really need to be able to work, too. Are you open to going to the shelter to see if there is a puppy or dog there you might click with? Puppies and dogs in shelters are a dime a dozen and you can get them in a wide array of breeds and breed mixes, sizes and colors.

Since you have a small child, I'd outright avoid any of those flexi-leashes. Lots of injuries with those, but they're not meant to be used as training tools to begin with. They're more for the training graduate. Still, if I had a small child around, I'd avoid them altogether.

I want a smart dog. I have to time to exercise it and stimulate it's mind. Really, I see those magic dogs with outdoorsy people who are running down a mountain and their loyal dog is right by their side. That is what I want. :p

You know those guys whose dogs have cool names like Kona or Kahuna and the dogs seem to instinctively consider the owner part of the pack and will jump in a lake and swim with them or sit by their side when fishing or go hiking all well behaved and happy. I saw one of those again recently. That's the scenario I have in my mind.

Our new home is on the edge of a small settlement and we'll be able to take the dog fishing or swimming in the morning or walking to the mail box, which as far as I can tell is nowhere near our home. :) And we'll be outside a large portion of the day, but when we are inside, the dog will be also.

[Sputterduck]

I would go to the shelter and spend some time with different dogs. Honestly, I would never do another puppy (unless dh EVER lets me get a purebred Standard Poodle lol!). We are in the middle of raising a lab/pit mix 6 month old puppy (adopted from the humane society). She loves everyone and every dog she comes across, but man, puppies are hard and time consuming. She still has accidents in the house (mainly because things get really hectic right in the morning as the kids are going to school, and again when they come home!) because I am not watching her like a hawk lol!

If you do get a puppy, a crate is a must. Also, I would look into obedience classes. I've never done it before and am going to be doing it with my girl.

Okay so how do I crate train and potty train? Any advice?

[Sadalsuud]

Huskies tend to do better in cooler weather. They can get overheated in warm weather fairly easily. We were discouraged from adopting a husky since we don't have a.c. in our home. Even if our summers are short and cool in the mornings and evenings, they can get hot and a husky would easily overheat. They also shed *a lot*.

I believe German Shepherds are notorious for shedding also. From what I know, they make good dogs as long as dominance is established. They also have an instinct for herding, and with their size they can knock over kids easily.

Our local shelter refuses to home a lab that hasn't been chipped since their curiosity gets the better of them at times and they can wander off.

I really haven't heard much about Retrievers, other than carrying things around in their mouths until it is thoroughly slobbery and disgusting.

[Sputterduck]

Huskies tend to do better in cooler weather. They can get overheated in warm weather fairly easily. We were discouraged from adopting a husky since we don't have a.c. in our home. Even if our summers are short and cool in the mornings and evenings, they can get hot and a husky would easily overheat. They also shed *a lot*.

I believe German Shepherds are notorious for shedding also. From what I know, they make good dogs as long as dominance is established. They also have an instinct for herding, and with their size they can knock over kids easily.

Our local shelter refuses to home a lab that hasn't been chipped since their curiosity gets the better of them at times and they can wander off.

I really haven't heard much about Retrievers, other than carrying things around in their mouths until it is thoroughly slobbery and disgusting.


Okay so labs wander off... I don't want that. I won't have a fence.

My cocker as a kid wouldn't do anything outside but sit by the door waiting for us to return. I guess she was the opposite of a lab. lol

We do have air conditioning for a husky, but it can get hot in the summers.

I don't mind shedding dogs. I don't mind grooming at all.

I am little worried about dominance issues with german shepherds, because of my dad's childhood dog's issues.

I don't mind my dog carrying things around. :p That's cute.

[Flutterby]

Okay so how do I crate train and potty train? Any advice?

Honestly, I don't have any great advice on those! When we first got our puppy, I put her in the crate the first night, but she had to be right next to my bed with my hand through the crate, touching her! The next night, she was just right next to her bed. We gradually moved her slowly towards the door and out of our room lol! I did put her in the crate a few times during the day with treats and toys, but so she could see us. She tolerated that okay, but now since she's been out of the crate, more than in, she doesn't like it anymore-she prefers the couch lol!

I found some good info on line--just google crate training. I leave Tessa in it now that it has gotten colder and damp out--especially when we are gone for a few hours. She would destroy the house lol!

House-training--well apparently we are still working on that!

Good luck :)

[Sputterduck]

Flutter, lol, that sounds a lot like raising a human baby!

[GirlsMama]

I'm going to push Border Collies a bit more, because of how great our dog is, and what I've read about them.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8pORF_PVW8Q Shows what great working dogs they are, how amazing they are.

http://www.petmedsonline.org/top-10-smartest-dogs-in-the-world.html List of the top ten smartest dogs in the world.

http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2008/03/animal-minds/virginia-morell-text/4 National Geographic article about how the border collie has the capability to have a larger vocabulary than the great apes.

And finally, a picture of our lovely border collie mix, a dog whom, if we had gotten her as a puppy and had trained her would have been not just great, but superb.
http://i409.photobucket.com/albums/pp176/threedaughtersofmine/DSCF1482.jpg

[vulturemom]

I have a husky-chow mix. She is a great dog, Very smart, she was house broken in less then a week. she loves to play, run, frolic and make sure we get exercise.We have had her for 13 years now and I can't imagine coming home with out her to welcome me.

On the bad side she used to bark loudly every time anyone walked buy our house (she has calmed a lot sense she had knee surgery) she doesn't care for kids (she isn't aggressive with them but, she hides when ever there are kids that aren't our over) we just had to pay $600 for her knee surgery because she blew out her ACL (ouch). I almost for got shedding, she loses so much hair that I could probably knit a whole new dog from her lost hair every season change.

[Flutterby]

Border collies ARE neat dogs. My MIL has one. However, he does get a little neurotic in the house because he doesn't have a job. He has the run of the mountains at their cabin all summer, then they come home and he lives in a small house with a small yard in town. Remember, they are herding dogs and highly active. It you really want to get into training, they would do great at agility!

[Flutterby]

I have a husky-chow mix. She is a great dog, Very smart, she was house broken in less then a week. she loves to play, run, frolic and make sure we get exercise.We have had her for 13 years now and I can't imagine coming home with out her to welcome me.

On the bad side she used to bark every time anyone walked buy our house (she has calmed a lot sense she had knee surgery) she doesn't care for kids (she isn't aggressive with them but, she hides when ever there are kids that aren't our over) we just had to pay $600 for her knee surgery because she blew out her ACL (ouch).


I don't know what it is with Chows and kids. I've never met a chow that likes kids :( Dh's grandmother has a chow/golden mix and I really wish she would have gotten a dog that likes kids. He's even bitten one of my boys. If any of my kids even comes too close to him he growls, so we always have to be really careful when we are at her house.

[GirlsMama]

The best thing about our dog is how much she loves us. Her name is Charlotte, she just loves us so much. She and I have had our issues because I am the least patient if there is a potty accident and she knows it, but she is the best dog I have ever seen with babies. Both of my little girls have climbed on her, tried to ride her, slept by her, laid by her and on her, pulled her mouth open to look at her teeth, fed her from their high chairs, they are mad about this dog.

At night she likes to sleep on one of our beds or in the hall outside the bedroom doors. During the day she keeps an eye on me all day, she is usually in the room I am in, unless she is outside. She used to have the run of the yard, but after too many fence climbing escapes the base police caught her a second time and told us if she gets out a third time we can't keep her anymore. So now we have her on a long outdoor lead. We have had to tie her to different things in our yard finding a way to keep her safe, let her get to her water and shade, and keep her home.

She is friendly with other dogs unless she is on leash, then she thinks she has to guard us. We could take a walk with her off her leash and she would not leave us, we play with her in our yard and she doesn't leave us. She likes everyone, just everyone so I am not sure if she would respond like much of a guard dog if someone broke in.

She acts like alpha to all dogs she meets, tries to roll them over and sniff their undersides. At home she knows my dh is alpha, but she lets the kids man-handle her. And she has short hair so she doesn't shed. She's a great dog. Even though I always say I don't want another dog after her, I know we will get another Border Collie mix.

[dalurker]

Honestly, I would never do another puppy (unless dh EVER lets me get a purebred Standard Poodle lol!).

Standard Poodles have my heart. I have two of them and have fostered several others. I just love them.

[Flutterby]

Okay, I'm going to get on my soapbox here for just a minute--please don't get a puppy from a back-yard breeder or a pet store (they get their puppies from mills and can be ridden with health problems). Either buy from a reputable breeder, or adopt from the humane society, or even check out pure bred dog rescues in your area.

[Sadalsuud]

I think with Huskies, they recommend exercising them in the early mornings or in the evenings when it is cooler. And keeping them indoors during the heat of the day.

With the labs, mostly it is their single-mindedness. They are really, really good at focusing on a single item, even if that item is leading them away from home. Even with a fence, labs have been known to get out.

I think most dogs, as long as you establish early on that you are the Alpha Bitch (pun intended ;)) have no problems with dominance. There are several fairly simple things that can help, including you making sure that they see you giving them the food and giving them the ok to eat and not letting them jump up for their bowl. But, if you are worried at all, I wouldn't get a German Shepherd. It would just make it more difficult for you and for the dog.

I agree with Dalurker. A golden really would be the best bet out of the ones you've posted. There really isn't any behavioral issues that you'd need to overcome, and you'd be able to take him/her outside during the heat of the day with no worries. They don't shed as bad, so grooming would be more of a relaxing thing for the both of you.

(Personally, I'd go for a Great Pyreneese. Our old Pufferbelly could scare off mountain lions and then try to crawl into your lap to be petted.)

[Sputterduck]

You are pretty persuasive GirlsMama.

[Flutterby]

Standard Poodles have my heart. I have two of them and have fostered several others. I just love them.

Do you have any pictures??? I tell dh that if he dies the first thing I'm going to do is to get a poodle lol! They are so gorgeous!

[Sputterduck]

(Personally, I'd go for a Great Pyreneese. Our old Pufferbelly could scare off mountain lions and then try to crawl into your lap to be petted.)

Aww. Cute!

[GirlsMama]

You are pretty persuasive GirlsMama.


Lol, as many times as I have been fed up with this dog, I know she is wonderful and I love her.

[Sputterduck]

Your story of her getting out though worries me. I don't want a dog that's prone to run away. :(

[hidesome]

The smartest dog is the Border Collie. Look them up :)

I have to admit that the smartest dog I ever saw was a Border Collie. If I were you, I'd get a female dog and I wouldn't pick any of the breeds you chose. Shepherds are generally smart but neurotic. The others are just dumb or neurotic or both.

[Sputterduck]

hidesome, why a female? :)

[Flutterby]

My friend has an Australian Shepherd that I am enamored by. He's around a year I think. He'll be outside with the kids and will NOT leave their sides. I know she hasn't spent any time training him, he's just decided its his job. Of course, he's probably trying to herd them too lol! But she never has to worry about him taking off.

[Sputterduck]

Is it bad that I lean toward a male dog because I'm going to be all by myself with my little son and mountain lions, coyotes and whatever else predator comes around in the mountains?

[dalurker]

Do you have any pictures??? I tell dh that if he dies the first thing I'm going to do is to get a poodle lol! They are so gorgeous!

Mine aren't particularly glamorous. I just keep them in simple non-frou-frou trims just because I don't have the time to maintain it. I love them, though. I never thought I'd be a Poodle person because I thought they looked so dumb, but their personalities really suit me as far as any purebred goes.

This is Perry.
http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i263/dafreakinlurker/Perrybirthday.jpg






And Pauly-NO.
http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i263/dafreakinlurker/Paulyheadshotbig.jpg


They were both rescue dogs.

[hidesome]

hidesome, why a female? :)

They are better with kids and they stay nearer to the house. Male dogs are mostly obnoxious creatures.

[hidesome]

Is it bad that I lean toward a male dog because I'm going to be all by myself with my little son and mountain lions, coyotes and whatever else predator comes around in the mountains?

I missed that part. If you want to protect kids from mountain lions, and coyotes there is only one breed that will do that well. You want a redbone hound. They are fearless, tough as hell, and will chase a lion all day long. They are also stubborn, lazy, and single-minded about food.

[Sputterduck]

I missed that part. If you want to protect kids from mountain lions, and coyotes there is only one breed that will do that well. You want a redbone hound. They are fearless, tough as hell, and will chase a lion all day long. They are also stubborn, lazy, and single-minded about food.


Thank you! I will look into those.

I admit to being intimidated by living on the edge of nowhere with predatory animals. I've never lived anywhere but the city. I'm excited and scared all at the same time.

[dalurker]

They are better with kids and they stay nearer to the house. Male dogs are mostly obnoxious creatures.

I realize we're speaking in generalities, but my experience has been the total opposite. Among altered dogs, the females have been more temperamental and the males more stable. Given a choice and all other things being equal, I prefer male dogs.

[Sputterduck]

They're very cute hidesome! I did just read that some will hunts cats like racoons, and I have 2 kittens. Will that be a problem?


http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/redbonecoonhound.htm
Look at that face! "thheart"

[hidesome]

I realize we're speaking in generalities, but my experience has been the total opposite. Among altered dogs, the females have been more temperamental and the males more stable. Given a choice and all other things being equal, I prefer male dogs.

Its are a different story. I agree.

[Sputterduck]

Its are a different story. I agree.


lol

[hidesome]

They're very cute hidesome! I did just read that some will hunts cats like racoons, and I have 2 kittens. Will that be a problem?

Ours gets along with two cats. They will hunt racoons for sure. They have an incredible sense of smell. My redbone can find an elk hoof a mile away. She literally brings them home from the woods on a regular basis. I've also seen her swallow a half-live rabbit whole in two gulps.

[dalurker]

Anyway, I generally make an effort to avoid dog related threads anymore. Good luck in your search, OP.

[Sputterduck]

Ours gets along with two cats. They will hunt racoons for sure. They have an incredible sense of smell. My redbone can find an elk hoof a mile away. She literally brings them home from the woods on a regular basis. I've also seen her swallow a half-live rabbit whole in two gulps.


Wow! She brings elk's home? Maybe I could stop going to the grocery store for meat!

I'm hoping that I can stop buying meat anyway when I move in 2 weeks since we'll have a river to fish in just a short walk to the west.

[Sputterduck]

Anyway, I generally make an effort to avoid dog related threads anymore. Good luck in your search, OP.


Why?

[Flutterby]

Mine aren't particularly glamorous. I just keep them in simple non-frou-frou trims just because I don't have the time to maintain it. I love them, though. I never thought I'd be a Poodle person because I thought they looked so dumb, but their personalities really suit me as far as any purebred goes.

This is Perry.
http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i263/dafreakinlurker/Perrybirthday.jpg






And Pauly-NO.
http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i263/dafreakinlurker/Paulyheadshotbig.jpg


They were both rescue dogs.

Both GORGEOUS!! Thanks :) I'm not big on the real showy cut. I like just the puppy (is that what they call it?) cut.

[hidesome]

Wow! She brings elk's home? Maybe I could stop going to the grocery store for meat!


I'm hoping that I can stop buying meat anyway when I move in 2 weeks since we'll have a river to fish in just a short walk to the west.


No, hunters normally leave elk hooves in the woods when they quarter an animal. Our redbone finds the forelegs and brings them home to chew on. Still, you should stop buying meat at the grocery store.

[Sputterduck]

No, hunters normally leave elk hooves in the woods when they quarter an animal. Our redbone finds the forelegs and brings them home to chew on. Still, you should stop buying meat at the grocery store.


I did not know that. :) I would like to stop buying meat at the grocery store. I don't know anything about hunting though, and I am just learning how to fish! I've love to learn though. Not many people here know how to hunt.

[SingingMom]

I want a smart dog. I have to time to exercise it and stimulate it's mind. Really, I see those magic dogs with outdoorsy people who are running down a mountain and their loyal dog is right by their side. That is what I want. :p

You know those guys whose dogs have cool names like Kona or Kahuna and the dogs seem to instinctively consider the owner part of the pack and will jump in a lake and swim with them or sit by their side when fishing or go hiking all well behaved and happy. I saw one of those again recently. That's the scenario I have in my mind.

Our new home is on the edge of a small settlement and we'll be able to take the dog fishing or swimming in the morning or walking to the mail box, which as far as I can tell is nowhere near our home. :) And we'll be outside a large portion of the day, but when we are inside, the dog will be also.

Excellent.

However, those people with cool dogs who stay right with them off leash- they have ALREADY put years into training those dogs. In general, those dogs are not puppies. This excellent future you envision will be some years away if you get a puppy.

My miniature poodle is settling in to this life. At five, he is mature enough to stick with me on a walk without running off- mostly. But mostly isn't good enough for me, so he is still staying on-leash right now. (I am more concerned about predators eating my dog than the other way around. A hawk could take my dog.)

If you are seriously in wilderness with predators, I think hidesome's suggestion is an excellent one. But a stubborn hound may not take as well to the kind of obedience you are picturing- it's all trade-offs. Of course, hounds should be, first and foremost, working dogs, so a good hound will indeed do his job. As long as he knows what it is.

For the kind of one-on-one attachment you describe, you might really consider a Standard Poodle. Or, again, a rescue dog.

[Sputterduck]

Excellent.

However, those people with cool dogs who stay right with them off leash- they have ALREADY put years into training those dogs. In general, those dogs are not puppies. This excellent future you envision will be some years away if you get a puppy.

My miniature poodle is settling in to this life. At five, he is mature enough to stick with me on a walk without running off- mostly. But mostly isn't good enough for me, so he is still staying on-leash right now. (I am more concerned about predators eating my dog than the other way around. A hawk could take my dog.)

If you are seriously in wilderness with predators, I think hidesome's suggestion is an excellent one. But a stubborn hound may not take as well to the kind of obedience you are picturing- it's all trade-offs. Of course, hounds should be, first and foremost, working dogs, so a good hound will indeed do his job. As long as he knows what it is.

For the kind of one-on-one attachment you describe, you might really consider a Standard Poodle. Or, again, a rescue dog.

It's going to be a rescue dog. Reputable breeders charge thousands from everything I've found so far.

I do understand that puppies won't do the magic dog thing. That's why I'm so determined to know how to train this dog Before I get it. I'm excited really about the training process. My aunt put a lot of time into a liverspot dalmatian, Maggie. She turned into the sweetest dog. After training, she'd even poop on command. Maggie was a years long project and pretty much a third daughter to my aunt. I want that.

Everyone has been an incredible help. "thheart"

[still_me]

I realize we're speaking in generalities, but my experience has been the total opposite. Among altered dogs, the females have been more temperamental and the males more stable. Given a choice and all other things being equal, I prefer male dogs.


This has been my experience too. I wonder though if female dogs listen better to men. Our female dog tried her whole life to be the alpha female with us.

I grew up with German Shepherds they are great dogs and can be very loyal. Proper training does go along way with them. We did have a collie/shepard male dog and he was amazing. We taught him sign language for my sister and he would stay up all night while we slept on the beach. He was the best dog I have ever had hands down.

I also had a malamute/shepherd mix that was very good.

Right now we have a lab/retriever mix. He is a wonderful dog and is laid back when he needs to be. He does need a lot of exercise since he is a year old. Which is fine because we are outside a lot. They train really well and must have a lovey to carry around. Retrievers like to have something to carry in their mouths. My sister has a full blood retriever who would bring my BIL's clothes to him when he got home. She knew he changed out of his work clothes and was a observant dog. :) She is 11 now and when left with her "grandparents" for a week was trained by the end to go get the paper. From their experience and our experience with our dog, they like to learn tricks.

Like I said before, signs are a great thing to teach the dog. We got to the point with Zeb that we didn't have to speak when we wanted him to do something. He also would listen for my sister's voice (she was deaf) and would respond instantly when he heard her become upset.

Good luck finding a dog! We got ours from the APL and while I had hesitations in the beginning, I don't regret our choice.

[CatSoup]

Two things:
Ceasar Millan
Adopt

[JulieBaby]

There are so many things that need to be said here but I think this is the most important: Border Collies are not good first dogs. They are a very smart breed with an insanely high working drive who need something to do at all times. If they are not given the right stimulation they will destroy your house (out of bordness) and will herd you and your kids. This may be funny as a puppy but it wont be funny when you have a 50 pound dog nipping at your heels.

I think it is EXTREMELY irresponsible to recommend this breed to a first time owner. Just because a certain persons mixed breed turned out fine, it doesnt mean that a first time owner will fair as well with a purebred Border Collie.

As far as the breeds the OP mentioned I be more inclined toward the Lab or Golden. In my personal experiences Golden are a bit more laid back than Labs but they do shed more. I'd recommend either of thes breeds as you want a hiking/fishing outdoor companion and these dogs are very willing to please and love to be at your side.

They are also great couch potatoes :)

[Babyblue]

the best dog my family ever ever had was a chocolate lab named holly. she was perfect around kids, she tolerated everything that a toddler could do to her and she was happy about it. she absolutely adored kids and babies. she was protective but not crazy. She shed some, but not as much as a golden retriever or a Shepard does.

she was a amazing hunting and retrieving dog. we had to rehome all our rabbits and gunnie pigs because the dog would open the cages, ever so gently pick up the animal and bring it to one of us. completely unharmed, but a bit freaked out to be in a dogs mouth. the dog was that gentle that she would pick up peeps and carry them to us without hurting them.

when I brought home an orphaned kitten, it got out of its little crate and I found him in with the dog, the dog carried the kitten around and kept it warm, and would take bits of dog kibble, chew them up small so the kitten could swallow them.

holly lived to the age of 14, and went completely blind before she died. all my parents did was stop moving furniture and told her to stop if she got too far away in the yard. she learned to use our voices to tell where she was and when she had to go up and down the steps to get back in the house.

she died this past winter, my sisters bf built her a nice box and my dh dug the hole for her. she is buried right beside our house. I really miss that frekin dog. If she was still alive I would have stolen her from my parents so ds could have such a nice pet.


Oh edit to add that I really really dislike border collies, they need high paced jobs till the day they die and the herding instinct is enormous. Our neighborhood has a huge pack of them and they are vicious dogs that go after anything that they think they can. If I catch my neighbors dogs attacking my horses one more time I am shooting them all. They are also the reason I cant have chickens or ducks on my own farm, because every single time these dogs get off the chain they go nuts from lack of heavy work attention and a job to do, these are not pets, they are working animals.

Having a border collie as a “pet” is the same as having a racehorse as a kids pony.

[Sputterduck]

Babyblue, that sounds like such a sweet dog. The kitten part especially.

[Sputterduck]

There are so many things that need to be said here but I think this is the most important: Border Collies are not good first dogs. They are a very smart breed with an insanely high working drive who need something to do at all times. If they are not given the right stimulation they will destroy your house (out of bordness) and will herd you and your kids. This may be funny as a puppy but it wont be funny when you have a 50 pound dog nipping at your heels.

I think it is EXTREMELY irresponsible to recommend this breed to a first time owner. Just because a certain persons mixed breed turned out fine, it doesnt mean that a first time owner will fair as well with a purebred Border Collie.

As far as the breeds the OP mentioned I be more inclined toward the Lab or Golden. In my personal experiences Golden are a bit more laid back than Labs but they do shed more. I'd recommend either of thes breeds as you want a hiking/fishing outdoor companion and these dogs are very willing to please and love to be at your side.

They are also great couch potatoes :)

I don't think the dog will be bored. It'll be outside doing things will us all day. I certainly don't want a dog nipping at my heels all day. I will think long and hard before I go for a border collie.


I am actually leaning away from a lab or a golden retriever at this point because in my research last night I found that they are absolutely not guard dogs.

I am leaning heavily toward a german shepherd, or a mix of that, since I really can't afford a breeder for that. The cheapest I could find was 2K. I really liked hidesome's idea of a redbone hound, but it looks like they can be really stubborn and I need a trainable dog. German shepherds are extremely trainable, good guard dogs, loyal, etc. They definitely do need proper socialization to not go overboard with the protectiveness, though, and I will see that we do that properly.

[Funmommy]

My preference out of all the ones you listed would be the Golden Retriever

1.) they're usually pretty smart
2.) good with kids
3.) used as bird dogs = good outside in woods and water

However if you're gonna go with a pure bred be aware of all the medical problems that go with the breeds. Golden Retrievers have a higher chance of hip displaysia, cancer in the lymph nodes and maybe other problems too. Need a ok amount of brushing (deends on the thickness and quantity of fur ... which varies by the dog).

German Shepheards have a higher bite ration than any other dog breed out there. They are usually good with kids but are very protective they also have issues with Hip Displasia. I'm not entirely sure what other medical traits they can carry. They are also pretty stubborn. Need a good amount of brushing (fur is usually pretty thick ... usually has a thick undercoat).

Labs are also usually good with kids (this would be my second choice) and good in the woods and water (like Golden Retrievers). usually good tempered around people. Fur is short but usually very thick and is hard to get out of clothes and furniture. (at least that's what I've found).

Huskies ... I LOVE these dogs but they need an extrodinary amount of brushing to keep them knot free. Not really good if you're gonna be in a warmer climate and will get stuff stuck in their fur (usually very hard to get stuff out). I think they can also have a tendancy toward hip displasia but I'm not entirely sure. If you keep their fur cut short (costly grooming expenses) then they're ok for the woods otherwise I wouldn't recomend them. Beautiful personalities though (at least all the ones I've met)

All of the pure bred dogs will have some tendancy towards medical problems so for myself I prefer MUTTS. A mix between a Golden retriever & Shepheard or lab is what I would suggest.

Smartness in a dog goes according to the dog not a particular breed (usually) however
Border collies are (as a rule) Very smart dogs but they have a tendancy of being hyper and if not kept mentally and physically active can cause problems. They're a hearding breed and if they aren't working then they can and will want to heard kids. (which usually isn't a good thing).
well that's what I know about the breeds anyways ... you may want to talk to a vet to get a better idea what the medical problems can be in the types of breeds of dogs you're looking at.

Good Luck ...
I wish I could get another dog but DS3 has Asthma and we can't get one.
I was soooo hoping to convince my DH to get one before this showed up :(

[Givebac]

Have you looked at craigslist for your area? Someone near me is looking to rehome a 4 month old purebred Husky. A few days ago I saw a Great Dane on there. Unfortunately I want a small, lazy dog. I'm keeping an eye on my freecycle list and petfinder.com too.

[Sputterduck]

All of the pure bred dogs will have some tendancy towards medical problems so for myself I prefer MUTTS. A mix between a Golden retriever & Shepheard or lab is what I would suggest.


There's a german shepherd/australian cattle dog mix at the shelter right now. Her pic looks just like a hairy german shepherd. I think we'll go see her today.

:)

[Sputterduck]

I wish I could get another dog but DS3 has Asthma and we can't get one.
I was soooo hoping to convince my DH to get one before this showed up


Aww. I'm sorry.

[jessiehannan]

The best dog I ever had was a beagle/rat terrier mix. What ever you choose, make sure you have the option of returning the dog if he/she isn't compatable with you and your son.

[Sputterduck]

The best dog I ever had was a beagle/rat terrier mix. What ever you choose, make sure you have the option of returning the dog if he/she isn't compatable with you and your son.


I had one of those when I was really little! He'd let me pick his nose and sit on him and anything else when I was a toddler. He was a very good very smart dog. We were devastated when he died.

[jessiehannan]

My mom and I were devasted when we had to have Patches put to sleep because of a broken spine. :( We nursed him through a bad case of Parvo, and took him every where with us. He was Patches, our wild Apache dog.

[Sputterduck]

How did he break his spine?

Mine died at a very old age after health problems with seizures and an enlarged heart. We were on vacation when he died. We were shocked and horrified. He was my parents baby before me.

[GirlsMama]

There are so many things that need to be said here but I think this is the most important: Border Collies are not good first dogs. They are a very smart breed with an insanely high working drive who need something to do at all times. If they are not given the right stimulation they will destroy your house (out of bordness) and will herd you and your kids. This may be funny as a puppy but it wont be funny when you have a 50 pound dog nipping at your heels.

I think it is EXTREMELY irresponsible to recommend this breed to a first time owner. Just because a certain persons mixed breed turned out fine, it doesnt mean that a first time owner will fair as well with a purebred Border Collie.

As far as the breeds the OP mentioned I be more inclined toward the Lab or Golden. In my personal experiences Golden are a bit more laid back than Labs but they do shed more. I'd recommend either of thes breeds as you want a hiking/fishing outdoor companion and these dogs are very willing to please and love to be at your side.

They are also great couch potatoes :)


Thanks a lot JulieBaby, because I was trying to be irresponsible rather than helpful.

[Flutterby]

There's a german shepherd/australian cattle dog mix at the shelter right now. Her pic looks just like a hairy german shepherd. I think we'll go see her today.

:)


Can you post a link if they are on petfinder.com? I bet she's cute!

[jessiehannan]

How did he break his spine?

Mine died at a very old age after health problems with seizures and an enlarged heart. We were on vacation when he died. We were shocked and horrified. He was my parents baby before me.

He had an unfortunate run in with a pig who outweighed him by a good 300 lbs. :(

[still_me]

Let us know as soon as you get more info on that dog you saw.


I do have to add our golden lab is pretty good with protecting us. He growled at DH the second day we had him because we were in the guest room and DH walked up the stairs with this boots on. He also will growl if someone walks up to the door or enters the yard. I don't know if he gets that he came to us for love, but also for protection since I'm home with the boys. He is very protective of all of us now, but a perfect gentlemen out in public and around other dogs.

[still_me]

He had an unfortunate run in with a pig who outweighed him by a good 300 lbs. :(


Good Golly! I think a 300lb pig could break my spine.

[Sputterduck]

Can you post a link if they are on petfinder.com? I bet she's cute!


http://search.petfinder.com/petnote/displaypet.cgi?petid=12069695
http://search.petfinder.com/petnote/displaypet.cgi?petid=12124369


We were looking for both of these at the shelter today. We couldn't find them so they told us they were either adopted or in foster care. I didn't have the dog's numbers so they couldn't tell me if they are in foster care. They told me to call tomorrow.

:( I had trouble not crying there today because the dogs there are so unhappy.

[Sputterduck]

He had an unfortunate run in with a pig who outweighed him by a good 300 lbs. :(


Wow. Poor guy. Pigs get that big? Wow.

[still_me]

Aww, even though she is a female, I like Rusty. I would lean towards her because she is younger than the other one and probably would be a little more easy to mold.

I know what you mean about the unhappy dogs. We had to go to the APL to get Smitty chipped and it was horrible there. One guy came in to get his dog and he came out with tears in his eyes because he said it was so awful to see all of them caged. We got Smit at the APL shop in the mall, so we didn't subject the boys to any of that.

[MoonBound]

Goldens are the best. We have always had them. I as a toddler used to climb up the couch and leap off on to the dogs belly all he would was check to see if I was alright and lick me. Both the ones we had growing up, we had them one after another defended either the property or the family. Grandma thought they were dumb, we thought they where smart. It's all pov. Example. Dad would tie erik to a line in the yard, Erik would stay within the limits of the line. The line was not hooked to anything. grandma said that showed how dumb he was he could've gotten away, we all thought it showed he knew we wanted him to stay.

what ever you get remember puppy = baby(newborn). oh yeah when you meet the dog don't get a puppy who chews on your fingers. It's not cute in an older dog.

[Flutterby]

Awww, Rusty was so cute. Too bad you didn't get her :( Keep looking though, new dogs come in all the time!

[Sputterduck]

Awww, Rusty was so cute. Too bad you didn't get her :( Keep looking though, new dogs come in all the time!


She still might be in foster care. Really I hope she is, because the shelter was not a happy place for a baby.:(

[Flutterby]

She still might be in foster care. Really I hope she is, because the shelter was not a happy place for a baby.:(

Our baby was 3 months when we adopted her from the pound. She was in with about 5 siblings. I was worried when we picked her up that she would be sad and miss her family, but she happily came with me and that was that! I think she was happy to leave!

[Sputterduck]

Our baby was 3 months when we adopted her from the pound. She was in with about 5 siblings. I was worried when we picked her up that she would be sad and miss her family, but she happily came with me and that was that! I think she was happy to leave!


I can imagine she was happy to leave. Many of the dogs there were crying. Not barking (though some were) but just this sad wail-ish crying. I've never heard a dog make a noise like that.

They would be so happy when someone came up to their cage, but when the person left they'd continue with the crying. I tried really hard not to cry because I was with my son.

[Flutterby]

That's so sad :( When I finally have my last dd in school, I want to do some volunteer work for the local shelter--even if its just walking dogs for a couple hours everyday. OR, if I could ever convince dh, I would LOVE to foster dogs until they could be adopted.

[Sputterduck]

I want to foster, too. I overheard a worker telling somebody that they don't have enough people to bottlefeed the kittens. The shelter is overworked. They welcome people to just come and play with the animals any time. My son and I are going to have to do that sometimes because these poor animals were miserable.

[Flutterby]

Just for fun, here's a couple pics of mine shortly after we got her :)

http://i188.photobucket.com/albums/z274/tgwharton/DSCI0074.jpg[/IMG]

http://i188.photobucket.com/albums/z274/tgwharton/DSCI0075-1.jpg[/IMG]

http://i188.photobucket.com/albums/z274/tgwharton/DSCI0076.jpg[/IMG]

[Sputterduck]

Cute! There was a puppy that looked just like that at the shelter today!

[jessiehannan]

I've gone puppy crazy!

[Sputterduck]

I've gone puppy crazy!


It's hard not to with their little eyes begging you to love them...

[jessiehannan]

I'm a sucker for kitties worse...

[Sputterduck]

I'm a sucker for kitties worse...


In that case, there was a momma cat and the tinniest kittens I've ever seen there. They must've been a day or so old. I so wanted to touch them but I thought the momma cat should have her space with them since she had just gone through having her babies in a shelter. But they were so cute lined up nursing on momma cat.

[Sputterduck]

I would get a shepard husky cross.


I totally would if there was one.

There was an adult malamute cross. I don't know what he was crossed with but he was Huge. It almost looked part great dane or something.

[Sputterduck]

Oh and they had german shepherd/corgi crossed older puppies there. That looked really, really weird. Like really wierd. Like crossing Arnold Schwarzenegger with Danny DeVito.

[Sputterduck]

Okay so on Rusty's page it says she was adopted and Cadet's page has been removed. I called another shelter with baby german shepherds. This one is the one I'd pick probably.

http://www.petfinder.com/petnote/displaypet.cgi?petid=12156782

They don't adopt to people without enclosed yards. :( My place won't have one. I told her more about us and she said because I stay at home and homeschool and we'll be in the country and doing outside things with the dog during the day, I can try to go through their direction saying I have extenuating circumstances.

*sigh*

I never thought that with tons of land, I wouldn't be able to adopt a dog. How do people in apartments get dogs?

[still_me]

SD, he is adorable!! I hope you get him.


Oh and what is up with having to have an enclosed yard? They rather put the dogs down to sleep because they can't home them than give them to someone who's yard isn't enclosed? It makes no sense to me.

[Sputterduck]

It doesn't make sense to me either. I almost worry that I'll have to go to a backyard breeder to get a dog if shelters don't give dogs to people without fences and I can't afford a reputable breeder because they charge thousands for german shepherds. Not that I would, because I don't want to support that. But it makes me kind of sad.

I read the other day that 64 percent of animals in shelters get put down. :(

[Flutterby]

I hope you are able to work around not having an enclosed yard! The shelters around here really don't like to adopt to the military because they think ALL of us will dump our animals when we move. I had to adopt mine from a redneck town shelter. All I had to do was hand over $75 and she was mine. I didn't have to fill out any kind of appliction which was nice.

[Sputterduck]

I hope you are able to work around not having an enclosed yard! The shelters around here really don't like to adopt to the military because they think ALL of us will dump our animals when we move. I had to adopt mine from a redneck town shelter. All I had to do was hand over $75 and she was mine. I didn't have to fill out any kind of appliction which was nice.


Wow that's cheap! The shelter yesterday was 140 to 190 for a dog.

[dalurker]

Most rescues are not shelters and there is usually no danger of dogs being euthanized. I generally require a fenced yard for my fosters, but my fosters aren't in danger of being euthed for lack of a home. They just wait here until they find the right home. That said, it's a general rule and I'm willing to consider individual circumstances. Some people with fences should never have a dog. Some without them are perfect.

Anyway, so many shelters will adopt to anyone with an adoption fee that no one ever "needs" to go to any breeder for a pet quality dog.

[Sputterduck]

Most rescues are not shelters and there is usually no danger of dogs being euthanized. I generally require a fenced yard for my fosters, but my fosters aren't in danger of being euthed for lack of a home. They just wait here until they find the right home. That said, it's a general rule and I'm willing to consider individual circumstances. Some people with fences should never have a dog. Some without them are perfect.

Anyway, so many shelters will adopt to anyone with an adoption fee that no one ever "needs" to go to any breeder for a pet quality dog.


I think it's different since you aren't going to kill the dogs who don't get homes. I just feel awful that I'm offering a wonderful doggy life full of land and fresh air and exercise and play, and they might not take me because of a fence.

I am glad that they have *some* standards. There was a lady at the shelter yesterday with a Filthy little boy, probably the dirtiest poor little child I've ever seen in real life. I would think that how she was with that little boy would be an indicator of how she would be with dogs, but you can't ask people if they care for their children on an application I suppose. I just don't see why they could adopt over a family that cares for their members but has land with no fence.

[Sputterduck]

I totally would if there was one.

There was an adult malamute cross. I don't know what he was crossed with but he was Huge. It almost looked part great dane or something.


My heart keeps going back to this guy all day today. I'd consider adopting him over a german shepherd pup but he's not available for adoption because they can't get him to gain weight. He was one of those dogs that you can look in their eyes and see deep intelligence. I love those dogs.

Maybe he'll gain enough weight by the time we move, if this shelter doesn't mind me not having a fence.

[Sputterduck]

I just emailed someone who put out an ad for a free german shepherd/rottweiler puppy. He's good with kids and other dogs. We'll see how that goes. I think that would be an adorable combination.

[Kath32769]

You are pretty persuasive GirlsMama.

I know! I want to go get a Border Collie today! LOL!

[Kath32769]

You can also try www.kijiji.com They have a lot of private adoptions on there, re-homing and such.

[Sputterduck]

You can also try www.kijiji.com They have a lot of private adoptions on there, re-homing and such.


I just looked on there these guys are too cute! lol

http://centralvalley.kijiji.com/c-Pets-Dogs-puppies-Purebreed-German-Shepherd-Puppies-For-Sale-W0QQAdIdZ80668608

[Sputterduck]

I just emailed someone who put out an ad for a free german shepherd/rottweiler puppy. He's good with kids and other dogs. We'll see how that goes. I think that would be an adorable combination.


I'm going to see this little man at 5. He is 5 months and... 5 days old.

What's with the 5s? Wierd.

[Flutterby]

Let us know how it goes :)

[Sputterduck]

The lady was an Hour late getting there. She called me 10 minutes after 5 and asked what time I wanted to come... Um, she agreed to 5, why would she act like she didn't know?

Anyway, a few minutes before she got home, some guy showed up and said he gave the dog to his friend for awhile and his friend never came back. She got home and we told her what he said, and she looked upset and went inside to ask him about it. She came out upset that someone had messed with her dog.

They are now trying to locate the dog to give it to us. :(

My friend that I brought along said that he is pretty sure they'll never be able to find the dog. It was a strange situation and I am heartsick for that dog. I have no idea what conditions it's living in right now.

[SingingMom]

SD, he is adorable!! I hope you get him.


Oh and what is up with having to have an enclosed yard? They rather put the dogs down to sleep because they can't home them than give them to someone who's yard isn't enclosed? It makes no sense to me.


An enclosed yard is a good idea. Some puppies will bolt when they're young; a new owner will let her puppy out in the yard to do some important business, and the puppy runs off. Many people are opposed to crate training, and leave their dogs in the yard. Many people see nothing wrong with letting a dog run loose, completely unsupervised. Others see nothing wrong with chaining or tying a dog in the yard.

My MIL is one of those who lets her dogs run free. She thinks it's important for the dogs to get their exercise. I think it's irresponsible.

I completely understand why a dog fosterer would ask whether you have an enclosed yard. The answer to that question could tell you a lot about a prospective owner. In some cases, a fence might not be necessary. But in most lives, a fenced yard really is part of having a dog.

[still_me]

ITA with you SM, but I was referring more to dogs in shelters, not foster homes.

[JulieBaby]

Hey, I just wanted to add that there shouldnt be a problem if your yard isnt fenced in. As long as the dog is indoors, and supervised (on lead if there is traffic) there shouldnt be a problem.

Are there any loose dogs where you live? A potential problem could be another dog trying to get at your puppy since you have no fence. But if the pup will always be supervised when outside it shouldnt be a problem.

My father owned a female pitbull who lived to be 12 (I think). For the last 3 years of her life they lived in a house with no fence. She was walked in the afternoon and night, but in the morning with preparation for work/school it was hard to take her for a walk. My dad tied a line between two trees and in the mornings he'd tie her on that and shed go potty and run on th line a bit before coming back in.

She loved running back and forth and was completely safe for the short time she was outside.

[Sputterduck]

Hey, I just wanted to add that there shouldnt be a problem if your yard isnt fenced in. As long as the dog is indoors, and supervised (on lead if there is traffic) there shouldnt be a problem.

Are there any loose dogs where you live? A potential problem could be another dog trying to get at your puppy since you have no fence. But if the pup will always be supervised when outside it shouldnt be a problem.

My father owned a female pitbull who lived to be 12 (I think). For the last 3 years of her life they lived in a house with no fence. She was walked in the afternoon and night, but in the morning with preparation for work/school it was hard to take her for a walk. My dad tied a line between two trees and in the mornings he'd tie her on that and shed go potty and run on th line a bit before coming back in.

She loved running back and forth and was completely safe for the short time she was outside.

The dog will always be supervised outside. He will never be outside without us. I would worry way to much about a mountain lion eating it or something, even if it would stay in my yard. I've not seen any other dogs around there yet. I'm sure someone owns one, but I doubt they let them run free.