Help me with a pet... please!

[Broughden]

A) I cant take my dog to Farmer's Market down the street this year. One block from my house. On Saturday mornings. But no my dog cant come with me.
Why? Because some bitch (well at least one of the parties isnt a bitch and is actually a nice girl) let her little precious off leash and it attacked some other bitch's little precious. So now? No dogs period.

B) Why you should STILL be careful even in a remote wilderness setting if you are a fucking idiot and never bothered to get your dog properly trained?
Because your untrained dog (thanks to your laziness) is likely to do something like this:



And then I will be even MORE restricted in which national parks or forests I can take my dog camping or hiking with me....thanks to your stupidity.

[gryeyes]

What happens when a dog and deer mate? Against the laws of nature?

[Polysorbate80]

...developed some serious agression issues when we had a baby ...

Disclaimer: I don't know the issues, or what you tried, or anything; I'm just making a couple suggestions for anyone who's having a baby for the first time and has a dog.

While you're at the hospital with the new baby, have someone bring an article of the baby's clothing home, one that is carrying the child's scent as well as the parents.  The dog should be less surprised when it sees the new noisy offspring for the first time, having already smelled it and associated it's scent with the parents.

Also, dogs are pack animals and want to know their place in the social pecking order of the home.  It may growl or act aggressive towards the baby at some point; this is natural--it's trying to assert dominance over the newcomer.  It happened for us once our baby began to crawl around.  We gave ours a firm "No!" (dog, not the baby :P ), had it get flat on its back (this is submissive posture for dogs) and placed the baby over the dog's exposed neck (obviously, do not let it attempt to bite).  This tells it the baby is superior in the family pack.  We had to do this twice with the first child, and then it stopped.  We've had no issues at all with the second child.

[Hawkbit]

Yeah, there were issues going on before we brought the baby home.  I had been snapped at twice and he had bitten my wife already.  We brought home the baby blanket and all that, but once he growled at the baby and I thought of him snapping at me, all I could see in my imagination was those teeth on my infant's skull.  So the dog had to go.  The dog wasn't right from the moment we brought him home. 

The irony:  It was a Golden Retriever, like the friendliest dogs around.  I got him from a breeder that asked way too little money ($400 for a $1200 dog) and then up and disappeared afterward.  Turns out there was a three-year long rash of bad breeding in our general area for Goldens.  When I called Golden Rescue they told me that they had lots of issues over the past few years with aggression.  Bittersweet experience for my first dog. 

[Sheepherder]

The irony:  It was a Golden Retriever, like the friendliest dogs around.

The most mild mannered dog I've ever seen was an unwanted chocolate labrador retriever that sort of just got passed around until it ended up with my family.  While on a friend's farm it began retrieving ducklings and delivering them, alive and utterly unharmed, to said friend.  In general most retrievers and sheepdogs are pretty docile, due to the way they've been selectively breed.  Poodles, terriers and many other yippy little shits are often surprisingly bad this way, as traditionally they're breed for hunting small burrowing animals into their dens.

[Trippy]

The most mild mannered dog I've ever seen was an unwanted chocolate labrador retriever that sort of just got passed around until it ended up with my family.  While on a friend's farm it began retrieving ducklings and delivering them, alive and utterly unharmed, to said friend.  In general most retrievers and sheepdogs are pretty docile, due to the way they've been selectively breed.  Poodles, terriers and many other yippy little shits are often surprisingly bad this way, as traditionally they're breed for hunting small burrowing animals into their dens.

The poodle on my street growing up was known as the "cat killer", though AFAIK he never killed any of the cats on our street (the cats probably had some sort of nightly meeting where they initiated the newcomers and told them "stay the fuck away from that yard").

[gryeyes]

Some of the most well behaved dogs Ive known (outside of extremely well trained hunting dogs) have been pit bull/mastiffs. I've been attacked by dogs on two occasions. First time me and my little sister were waiting at the bus stop I was in 2nd grade she was in first. Neighbors golden retriever comes out of nowhere at full speed and knocks my sister over and starts going nuts on her. Somehow I got her away from it and ran into a strangers house as cujo harried me. Think I had to receive 50 something stitches spread between 3 bites. But my sister was my eternal servant from that point onward.

Second time I was 10ish riding a bike through a wooded trail that wove behind some houses. Hear a dog going apeshit i cant see through the bushes, hear a loud SNAP (apparently when it broke its chain) and see the bushes rustling towards me like a torpedo is about to strike. Knocks me off my bike and I play dead while it has a paw on either side of my head growling. I was paralyzed with fear, my uncle who was a bit in front of me turns around and thinks im dead picks me up and saves me. I literally could not speak for like 30 minutes after that. People shouldn't be allowed to own dogs without first taking a class on how to raise the fucking things.

[ShenMolo]

1. Smaller
2. Little to no shedding
3. Easily trainable
4. Prefer lazy as hell (no hyper active dogs)

Any dogs out there that meet this criteria? I am no expert obviously, but was thinking a smaller bulldog. Opinions, experience, recommendations?

Thank you.

French Bulldog
Boston Terrier
Pug

All have great personalities and are cute in an ugly sort of way. The Pug especially is an excellent lap dog. The bulldog and boston terrier aren't the laziest breeds, but are small enough to be easily handled.

For something more exotic, check out an Olde English Bulldogge. They are a re-creation of the english bulldog of the 19th century, bred to be a little more athletic and less problematic health-wise than the modern English Bulldog (think UGA, mascot of the University of GA). Still of medium size, still lazyish, but still a awesome pet and capable defender if needed.

Olde English Bulldogge

[Feverdream]

1. Smaller
2. Little to no shedding
3. Easily trainable
4. Prefer lazy as hell (no hyper active dogs)

Any dogs out there that meet this criteria? I am no expert obviously, but was thinking a smaller bulldog. Opinions, experience, recommendations?

Thank you.

French Bulldog
Boston Terrier
Pug

All have great personalities and are cute in an ugly sort of way. The Pug especially is an excellent lap dog. The bulldog and boston terrier aren't the laziest breeds, but are small enough to be easily handled.

For something more exotic, check out an Olde English Bulldogge. They are a re-creation of the english bulldog of the 19th century, bred to be a little more athletic and less problematic health-wise than the modern English Bulldog (think UGA, mascot of the University of GA). Still of medium size, still lazyish, but still a awesome pet and capable defender if needed.

Olde English Bulldogge

I'm honest to god not trying to be a jerk here, but I am compelled to repeat that Bulldogs are notoriously stubborn and difficult to train, though they have great heart and spirit, and I love 'em in spite of their stubborn streak. 

Both Pugs and French Bulldogs are easier to work with and generally have really vibrant and funny personalities.  They're also a good fit for your other 'most desired' categories: No big deal with shedding, couch potatoes, and easy to train. 

The problem with Frenchies is that they tend to be EXPENSIVE if purchased directly from breeders (I'm talking hundreds of dollars to over $1,000 even for 'pet quality' puppies).  The rescue organizations working with them require an extensive application processes and you're put on a waiting list.  Pugs are easier to obtain from breeders or rescue organizations, and are a wonderful dog...just be sure you check into the family background for any history of eye or skin problems.

[Khaldun]

Pugs, Bostons and French bulldogs = easy to train. Bostons especially.

English bulldogs = very hard to train, stubborn.

Bassetts and beagles = even harder to train, stubborn as all hell.

[Jeff Kelly]

Any pets that are compatible with a single household? I always wanted cats or a dog but with 50 hour work weeks and a tiny 50 m^2 (540 square feet) appartment I never dared to buy one or the other.

[Signe]

Any pets that are compatible with a single household? I always wanted cats or a dog but with 50 hour work weeks and a tiny 50 m^2 (540 square feet) appartment I never dared to buy one or the other.

Are you a hunter or a warlock?

[Hawkbit]

Ok, I have to tell this crazy story about what happened today.  My post last week about our golden that we had to put down had me thinking about him over this weekend.  I hadn't thought about him in the last year or so, just kinda missing him and wishing that it had gone better than it did. 

This morning, my wife goes for a run and at the end of it (a street over from our house) a golden puppy is loose in our division and starts following her.  She stops; nobody is around.  No tags, but the dog is well groomed and has a nice collar on him.  This dog is beautiful and very well taken care of.  After waiting for five minutes to see if someone is going to get him, she gives up and he follows her home.  He runs right into the house, comes up to me and sits, just looking at me.  WTF.

So we call my best friend's wife because she works for the humane society here.  She takes the dog up to see if he's microchipped, but he's not.  So she brings him back to us and we decide that we'll keep him until his owners come to get him.  About 3 hours later, my friend's wife finds the owners and they come over to get him. 

The guy explains that they just moved into the neighborhood three days ago because he was stationed here in the Army.  After chit-chatting a bit I told him that he's got a beautiful dog and if someone wasn't going to claim him that we were going to keep him.  Then.... he tells me that his wife and he are considering getting rid of the dog because they simply don't have the time to devote to it because they have really young kids and other small dogs.  Instead of taking the dog with him, he tells me to keep the dog for the night and see how he does with our other dog and family.  WTF. 

In the evening, he and his wife stop by and tell us that the dog is ours if we promise to take good care of him.  Seems as if they got themselves over their heads a bit with their other responsibilities and didn't have the time to devote that the dog deserves.  We walk back over to his house and he gives us the bed, brushes, food, leashes, collars and other odds and ends.  He's already been through puppy kindergarten, he's neutered and up to date on vaccines.  All his AKC papers are there, too.  As in, this dog comes from a breeder who has five generations of champions.  His mother is a therapy dog and this dog has the same disposition. 

To top it off, they never asked for anything in return.  They spent well over $2000 between breeder, neuter and supplies, I'm positive. 

I wish I were making this up, because it sounds like some chicken soup for the soul bullshit.  But I swear it's true.  Chipper is sleeping right next to me now.  Pics inc soon.

WTF.

[Mosesandstick]

Yay! 

[K9]

What a nice story to read over breakfast. Congratulations man.

[RhyssaFireheart]

Definitely a WTF story, but awesome that you now have a new Golden.  YAY!

And pics are definitely required now. :D

[Broughden]

Story

That is an awesome story! 

[Engels]

many congratulations!

[Signe]

What a nice thing to happen!     Good luck with the new pup.

[Cyrrex]

Great story.  Here's hoping that this is just happy good luck, and not karma coming to even the score.

[Hawkbit]

First pic is of the pup, Chipper.  Second is Chipper (6 months old) and our German Shepard named Gretel (8 months old). 

[Engels]

I'm a cat person, but those pics make me envious.

[voodoolily]

Any pets that are compatible with a single household? I always wanted cats or a dog but with 50 hour work weeks and a tiny 50 m^2 (540 square feet) appartment I never dared to buy one or the other.

Cats are great in that situation (used to be there myself) but I'd suggest adopting a pair of cats so they have company. Itty kittens are fun but need lots of attention upfront (and training, unless you don't mind them getting up on EVERYTHING), so you might be better off getting a couple youngsters that are 6 months old or so.

[voodoolily]

I wish I were making this up, because it sounds like some chicken soup for the soul bullshit.  But I swear it's true.  Chipper is sleeping right next to me now.  Pics inc soon.

WTF.

[Azazel]

Fuck it then, the thread's off to the den.

The kids on leashes bit is only serious in that nobody fucking controls anything or anyone 100% of the time.  That's a given.  We give people the benefit of the doubt until they prove they're untrustworthy.  Why not for dogs?

I'm not "agreeing to disagree" or asking anyone else to do so.  I'm telling you that so long as my dog exhibits no behavior that would force me to leash her on walks, I'm not going to do it, so save your breath. (Or pixels, or whatthefuckever)  You might want to call the cops and let them know.  You know, the ones I frequently pass who don't give a shit, because the dog behaves as it should.

Speaking of kids, I've seen a few little shits get nipped by dogs because the children just would not leave the dog the fuck alone.  The best pet in the world won't take abuse forever.  Train your kids, people.

Random dogs off a leash that run right the fuck up to me risk getting kicked in their fucking heads. I was attacked by an off-leash German Shepherd when I was riding my bike as a kid on a local road. Similarly, a friend of mine had her cat killed by some random cunt's off-leash dog jumping her low front fence attacking it who went on his way (in front of her) with a "sorry mate". So both off-leash dogs and their owners can go fuck themselves - if they come near me and the owner can't get them back after a "get your fucking dog under control" they get fucking kicked.

[LC]

Siberian Husky

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qXo3NFqkaRM

[Engels]

Siberian Husky

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qXo3NFqkaRM

In Husky, however, she's saying,"Please save me from these morons"

[Jeff Kelly]

Huskies aren't pets. They are working animals and it would be extremely cruel to keep them as single pet dogs.

If you plan on taking your pack of 6 to 10 siberian huskies as sled dogs to the north pole or to win the great alaskan dog sled race then go ahead, otherwise buy a different breed of dog.

The same goes for border collies or other kinds of working dogs. You wouldn't keep a horse or a cow as a pet in your living room either.

[voodoolily]

Almost all breeds were bred to be working dogs. Even little lap dogs were for eradicating vermin. And every breed is hardwired for social order - the wolf hasn't been bred out of them yet. To be fair, no one with less than a quarter acre should have a dog (nothing bigger than a dachsund, anyway), imo.

[Jeff Kelly]

Yeah but there is a difference between the breeds. A Husky behaves like a 7 year old with ADD on a sugar high when you don't work with them regularly.

[Ingmar]

Almost all breeds were bred to be working dogs. Even little lap dogs were for eradicating vermin. And every breed is hardwired for social order - the wolf hasn't been bred out of them yet. To be fair, no one with less than a quarter acre should have a dog (nothing bigger than a dachsund, anyway), imo.

A couple of the really big breeds (Newfoundlands for example) actually do really well as apartment dogs. They're not boisterous in the least so the lack of space doesn't bother them or the owner really. At least, that is what the Newfie breeders tell me every year at the GGKC show.

[Jherad]

A couple of the really big breeds (Newfoundlands for example) actually do really well as apartment dogs. They're not boisterous in the least so the lack of space doesn't bother them or the owner really. At least, that is what the Newfie breeders tell me every year at the GGKC show.

I really, REALLY want a Newfie, but won't until I'm sorted out house+yard wise. I've heard the same thing about apartments with them, but I'd much rather the dog have plenty of space, and I'm pretty sure a Newfie could coat an entire apartment with drool in a single head shake.

[Samwise]

A couple of the really big breeds (Newfoundlands for example) actually do really well as apartment dogs. They're not boisterous in the least so the lack of space doesn't bother them or the owner really. At least, that is what the Newfie breeders tell me every year at the GGKC show.

I think those breeders are just trying to sell you a dog.    In my experience, having lived with a few of them, Newfoundlands are plenty boisterous, at least for the first few years.

They're also sufficiently massive that even when they get old enough to remain stationary most of the day, in an apartment you'd be climbing over them constantly.  I don't think any of the apartments I've lived in would contain even a relatively inert Newfie.

[Sjofn]

A couple of the really big breeds (Newfoundlands for example) actually do really well as apartment dogs. They're not boisterous in the least so the lack of space doesn't bother them or the owner really. At least, that is what the Newfie breeders tell me every year at the GGKC show.

I think those breeders are just trying to sell you a dog.    In my experience, having lived with a few of them, Newfoundlands are plenty boisterous, at least for the first few years.

They're also sufficiently massive that even when they get old enough to remain stationary most of the day, in an apartment you'd be climbing over them constantly.  I don't think any of the apartments I've lived in would contain even a relatively inert Newfie.

Nah, they weren't trying to sell us on a dog, otherwise they wouldn't have also stressed how fucking messy they are. Our apartment would hold a newfie fine, it's a pretty nice size. But! I would want it to have a place to swim (because apparently I would want the Newfie to be EXTRA MESSY) and we've no place like that.

Also, Huskies don't need 7 other dogs to be sane, just one. More is better I'm sure, but they really aren't bad as pets as long as you're aware they are PACK dogs in BIG CAPITAL LETTERS. Not unlike beagles, really. Just bigger. :P

[hanzou]

1. Smaller
2. Little to no shedding
3. Easily trainable
4. Prefer lazy as hell (no hyper active dogs)

Well, pug or a greyhound seem like obvious choices, but I'd suggest you reevaluate you criteria, as whatever you get, you'll be stuck with it for a decade or so.  Moreover, with 11 acres and children to keep it busy, it doesn't seem like you really need that lazy of a pet, and hell, you might even decide you want a dog that interacts with you in a way more meaningful than napping in your lap every once in a while. 

With your set up, something like a Weimaraner seems pretty awesome.  However, if you are truly lazy/busy and have absolutely no faith in your children/wife to help with the dog, that would not be a good choice.  Perhaps a Labradoodle (anyone know much about these)? 

Your pet is going to be the newest addition to the family so get something awesome.  If you really want a smaller/lazy pet get a greyhound or a pug (I vote greyhound), but make sure that's what you want.