It is my understanding that black dogs that are big and male are the hardest to place. OP doesn't have much of a yard so that might be a problem. There was a law in CA that passed recently making long term tie outs for dogs illegal. That would help on the tie out yappers. We have a couple of yappers in the yard behind us. Rotten, nasty little things. I sure get sick of them snarling at me and my pups. I enjoyed the corgis I met at obedience classes. They make good therapy or service dogs because they are stout but short legged. One owner said once they hit about 2 years and have chewed up everything in the house already they make pretty good pets. I am not a small dog person myself but lots of folks enjoy them. Taria
Sharon makes a good point. There are a LOT of bigger dogs (I'm not saying huge dogs) that are much more of a couch potato than a smaller dog- waaaayyy less active and exhausting. My beloved HairyButts range from darling Daisy at about 60 lbs. to precious Simon at about 85 lbs. They go outside to do their potty thing and usually rush right back inside. They have about 1/2 acre under chain link fence, so they can run and play, but they still prefer to be sofa ornaments and hang out with mom. Also, inspite of their lovely silky coats, I seldom need to groom my Goldens. I mostly watch for mats under their ears and trim them out with scissors.
Even small homes with small yards can accommodate a larger breed. And I firmly believe larger dogs are calmer, less likely to snap at someone and make much less noise than most little dogs. But then I am prejudiced and quite vocal about it! VBG
BTW- I didn't intend to make anybody get teary-eyed with Daisy's story. It certainly has a happy ending! Here's pic of sweet Daisy and my beloved old Missy.
I did just that, Pat, yesterday. I found one I dearly loved. But DH says he is not, absolutely not, wanting another dog right now. I think Jojo is going to have to calm down a bit and we are going to have to wait. Maybe in a few months -- after snow, probably, things will look different.
When we found Zippy, we were at the shelter to get some rats! DD#1 had 2 rats, but one died, and the surviving one was lonely. So... 3 more rats were added, and now they are all happy. While we were there, we thought... hey, let's just go look at the dogs... and this one looked so much like my beloved Sierra... except in the head.
He does have the same annoy> I did just that, Pat, yesterday. I found one I dearly loved. But DH
My Cotton is exactly what you have described wanting and he is a mini-poodle. Actually, we are a bit suspicious and think he is 1/2 poodle,
1/2 bichon. He's a bit stout for a poodle and his snout is shorter than the usual for a poodle. But he's very sweet... very rarely hyper except when he comes in on a chilly night and wants to warm up... or if we get him charged up by telling him to run.... LOL (hey, I'm his mom and if he doesn't exercise that way, he won't get any.)
I am also looking for a dog and want suggestions. This would be for Sofi's fourth birthday. Unsure whether we should get a purebred puppy or a rescue mutt (or both, a purebred rescue). Been looking at Petfinder..
Our situation: we are gone most of the day. We have a fully fenced back yard and could put a doggy door to a safe area. We have four guinea pigs so terriers or any other rodent-eating breeds are out. We could use an excuse to get out more and excercise, walking the dog would be a good way of making us more more (quilting is such a sedentary hobby!). My mom is most likely going to come for Sofi's birthday and stay for a while, so she would be here in the beginning, but she is horrible at training kids and dogs, she has had the most spoiled dogs I've ever met, meaning she likes big dogs but won't train them (and she was pretty bad with me, and my brother and would do the same with both grandkids, if she could.
I had dogs all my life grow> My Cotton is exactly what you have described wanting and he is a
I hate to say it but I just don't get folks that are not home all day and busy getting dogs that they will leave alone all day. Dogs are pack animals and it just doesn't seem fair to isolate them. I have to admit my animals are all pretty catered to. I guess a cat would be a problem for the guinea pigs? I would wait until the pigs were gone and just get a cat. Easier for all of you in the long run.
That said if you really are convinced you need a pooch in your life a big dog with short legs is a corgi. They are neat pooches. The little goldeny rescue dog we got 6 months ago has worked out really well. She has been easy going and good company. The pure bred that is 3-1/2 needed leg surgery and has been pretty costly and time consuming. I am enjoying both of them though. Golden retrievers are the dog of choice with me. Check your home owners policy and see if there are any exclusions. We cannot have about 7 different breeds due to liability.
My kids were not given the > I am also looking for a dog and want suggestions. This would be for
I believe the right one will pick you! Here's another 'Amen' for going the rescue way -- so many animals are euthanized yearly while waiting for their forever home. If you're looking for a particular type, just google 'rescue---' or 'adopt---' and fill in the blank(g). My rescued greyhound was as quiet and unobtrusive as my little beagly gal. rusty
Join the club, Taria. When I was working, my schedule had me leaving the house *early* in the morning, but I was home most of the afternoon and all evening. Our dogs got lots of attention when we were home, but I felt bad for them when we were gone. Now that I'm retired and home most of the time, I can see a difference in doggie behavior. Dexter comes to check on me several times a day -- just making sure I'm still here and willing to give him some rubbing and scratching, as well as some conversation. Tuppence used to spend practically all day next to me or on some part of my anatomy; she hated it when I was gone. Dogs *need* their pack!
Any dog will eat a rodent, not just terriers! My terrier wouldn't know my mice even existed, by my friend's Groenendael (very large Belgian Shepherd) does! Don't believe for one minute that you'll be able to free-range your GPs once a dog arrives! LOL!
I so envy you your Basset Hounds. We had one long ago and he was a most beautiful boy. Probably the largest dog I've ever owned, but also the shortest... Those darling little leggies...
Some 'kind' individual threw a tiny white puppy over our back fence one Boxing Day. We were pleased, since we wanted a dog, but it was *hard* work feeding a not-yet-eyes-opened baby dog round the clock and dealing with my then-four-year-old who had a chronic infectious rhinitis. After months of testing and ear infections, she finally had surgery to remove her adenoids (the kid, not the dog). As it happened, the dog was pretty much left to her own devices while all the medical stuff went on. By the time she (the dog, not the kid) was six months old, we figured out that she was a very large, very gorgeous Bull Terrier! Hooray!
Because we hadn't really been around consistently during her formative years, Alice (the dog, not the kid) became *such* a handful! She barked and dug and jumped and nearly drove the cat to a severe mental disorder! She et the clothes off the line, terrorised the postman and nearly broke my husband by digging the equivalent of a grave in the long grass beside the shed. You guessed it: poor DH fell in and nearly snapped 'imself in two in the process!
ROTFLMAO... Precious memories...
Mind you, I've corrected all these problems over time, but I guess the point I make in all this is that my daughter was absolutely unable to be allowed to play in the back yard for years. The dog was far too large and too strong for her and would bowl her over at every turn, jumping on her, scratching her, licking her face and frightening the life out of her. A four-year-old child just isn't big enough to hold its own against a rambunctious puppy, especially if it's from a large breed.
If the dog is going to be spending most of its day alone, then you won't be able to deliver constant correction and supervise play between the dog and your daughter. Why not wait a few years until your little girl is bigger, older and able to join in the care of the dog? Or, why not consider getting an older dog that's already socialised?
We were lucky enough to get the sweetest year-old Cardigan Corgi for my Mum. The breeder didn't want to sell him to a showing home for fear they'd breed with him (his ears were *huge*, like batwings). And so Mum got this gorgeous dog for next-to-nothing! He was polite, quiet, house-trained and remaind her faithful friend until his death a few years ago.
Or, you could get a lovely pair of show mice? They can have behaviour problems, personality disorders and be completely antisocial, but it all happens in the safety of a cage. You can afford to be away all day because the mice like that and will gaily shred up all the newspaper you can provide into artful little nests. You can teach them to walk a tightrope or solve a maze or beg for their food -
Lady who lived in this house before us had two daschunds, two Salukis (sorry, can't spell either!)and a mid-size terrier. She was a full time teacher and the dogs spent most of the day howling and barking while she was out. The garden is quite large, but they were still miserable. The next door neighbours were about to put their newly extended house on the market when we moved in - in fact every neighbour came round to welcome us!
Cats, however, sleep much of the day, so don't know you've gone, and two cats are better than one! They are more self-sufficient than dogs, but still part of the family. Pat combines guinea pigs and cats by making sure they are kept separately. If the GPs are inside a pen they are safe.
If you want something friendly, that will want YOUR company, enjoy walks and loves children (and you can handle tons of shedding hair at times), I HIGHLY recommend Bernese Mountain dogs and Newfoundlands. SO much love.
Paulette in WV who lives with TOO many critters, but her fav is an aging Berner
not even one that is raised side by side with guinea pigs??? by the way, they are caged, of course.
how do you know? I might be different than you... maybe I do need a reason to go out and walk around the block, or go to the park, other than my well being!
I wasn't asking for advice about whether I should be getting a dog or not, but about what dog I should get. You guys are starting to sound like that scary guy we have (hopefully) all filtered out!
Obviously a lot of people have strong opinions about dogs.... you really think a dog would be better off in a shelter than in our care because we work? Does that mean you think I have to wait until I retire (25 more years?) to have a dog back in my life??? Doesn't sound fair...
And, Sofi is NOT scared of dogs and I am sure she can handle one...
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