Do you think dogs get lonely?

[sharkbitten]

Katy,

We crate ours while we are at work. Ours is almost 8 months now. The main thing is to spend time with them when you are home. My kids run her ragged in the evening(sometimes it is the other way around) and I walk her almost every night after dinner. We tried to gate her down in the storage room once when she was about 3 months for a few hours as an experiment, but she climbed the gate and had the run of the house for 4 hours. [img]/images/graemlins/shocked.gif[/img] We considered ourselves very lucky after that episode with the very little damage she caused. Plan b was to crate her all day and it has worked out fine. We supply her with some chew toys to keep her occupied. She even sleeps in her crate at night. i tell her "Crate.", and she walks right in and lays down.

If you are planning on getting a dog, like it has been said throughout the thread, definitely do some research on breeds before buying a dog. There is a ton of info. in books and online. You definitely want a dog with the right temperment and needs to fit your situation. Also read up on puppy personality testing, so when you do start looking around at pups, you can do some of the tests which might help you pick the right pup out of a litter of little fur balls that you wish you could just take the whole lot home instead of choosing just one. [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]
The testing is not a sure fire method, but it might help you get away from an agressive or very timid puppy.

Don't discount shelters with just a bunch of mutts. My last 2 dogs have been from shelters and mixed breeds and they have been great. The last one, we got in May, and she is a lab-border collie mix??(not totally certain on the last breed). She's a bundle of energy but I think she's going to grow into a pretty good dog.
One problem with shelters is you really have to harden your heart a little bit. You want to take all the dogs home. Also, if the shelter is really dirty and disgusting, be careful. Our new puppy had a horrible case of kennel cough and the vet bills started to add up pretty quick that first month or so after we got her. The shelter we got her from was filthy. I guess that is the biggest risk you run with shelter dogs. I had no problems what so ever with my previous dog from a shelter, but there was a huge difference in the quality of the shelters.
I guess the bottom line is to do some research on breeds, shelters, breeders (if you're getting a pure-bred), etc.
Also, if you do go to a shelter, don't discount older dogs too. There are probably some great 1 or 2 year old dogs up for adoption too. I've heard that a dog like that, given a second chance, can make a great pet.

If you end up getting a puppy, let us know how it turns out and God help you! [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

[katyseagull]

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Katy,

We crate ours while we are at work. Ours is almost 8 months now. The main thing is to spend time with them when you are home. My kids run her ragged in the evening(sometimes it is the other way around) and I walk her almost every night after dinner.

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If you are planning on getting a dog, like it has been said throughout the thread, definitely do some research on breeds before buying a dog. There is a ton of info. in books and online. You definitely want a dog with the right temperment and needs to fit your situation.

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Thank you for the excellent advice Sharkbitten and Mondo (edited to add Sharkbitten!). I will definitely keep everything you said in mind. Good to hear that you can leave a dog alone all day and it is still well balanced and normal when you get home.

My problem is that I'm tempted to ignore everyone's sound advice about researching breed temperament and go buy a dog based on looks. I know this sounds stupid but I just really want a cool looking dog. When I found out the German Wirehaired Pointer has a lot of energy and is not a good candidate to leave alone all day I felt like this [img]/images/graemlins/frown.gif[/img] [img]/images/graemlins/frown.gif[/img] [img]/images/graemlins/frown.gif[/img].

I suppose in the end I will go to a shelter and get a calm older dog. I really don't think I can handle a puppy but we'll see. If someone were to give me a wirehaired pointer puppy right now as a gift I would not turn it down. I would love it so much [img]/images/graemlins/crazy.gif[/img].

[Ser William]

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My problem is that I'm tempted to ignore everyone's sound advice about researching breed temperament and go buy a dog based on looks. I know this sounds stupid but I just really want a cool looking dog.

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This would work fine if you were say a stay at home mom who could spend all day with the dog. But for someone like you this is a really, really, REALLY bad idea. I'm sure you'll be able to find an awesome dog with a great disposition. Don't allow yourself to impulse purchase a dog. I can only echo the thoughts of others when I say they take a lot of work, effort, care, and love to keep happy. And it is well worth it.

[sharkbitten]

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My problem is that I'm tempted to ignore everyone's sound advice about researching breed temperament and go buy a dog based on looks. I know this sounds stupid but I just really want a cool looking dog.

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I know it may be hard, but please don't do this. Shelters are full of dogs that looked cool but were too much for their new owners to handle. There are a lot of cool looking dogs that are probably a good fit for your circumstances, but it just takes a little research.
I have a whole list of dog breeds that I would love to have for various reasons, but so many are not a good fit due to room, size, grooming requirements, not kid friendly (a major one with 2 young children runninng around), energy level, etc., etc.

Try www.petfinder.com

It might be a good start. It will give you information on various shelters in your area, including specific breed rescue shelters. I used it pretty extensively earlier in the year with our new addition.

Oh, don't rule out a puppy yet. Yes, they take some time and effort (There is a really good reason they're cute-so you don't kill them when the little demons have chewed up your best pair of shoes that you forgot to pick up off the floor or is excavating under your house and looks up at you with puppy eyes and a dirt covered face, wagging his/her tail and so very proud...Should I go on? [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]) but it can be worth it. They will repay you a milion times over by making you laugh and give you undying love and affection. You haven't lived until you've owned a puppy. At least that is what I've told my wife. She has had her doubts at times over the last few months though.
Good Luck. [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

[Blarg]

I'd also add, don't kid yourself about how much of a commitment you will make to grooming. Knots in animal fur can be painful and even start to tear out the skin! Matted hair is really hard to remove. Knots and mats can snowball too, starting in the morning and becoming a giant painful tangle by evening that takes a good while and a very cooperative dog to cut out. You really have to be all over the grooming if you don't want your long-haired dog to be in trouble. For that reason, I think a long-haired dog is too much trouble for most people and would recommend against it. Don't get too carried away by the looks, Katey! Be practical! You should still be able to find plenty of beautiful, great dogs if you stay practical.

[sharkbitten]

Here's 2 pictures of our little demon. These were taken during the summer.
Don't worry, she's not roling down the stairs in the wagon picture. She's just drinking some water and rolled part way down the stairs and the wagon got stuck, not that it bothered her any.

Unfortunately, she does not look near as cute now. She has a case of mange(the non-contagious kind thankfully) and is missing some hair around her left eye. We've nicknamed her Patch. The vet is treating her and it does not seem to be getting any worse. Hopefully it will grow back and she'll be cute again.

[Rootabager]

If you are having trouble with a dog pulling while you are walking them get a pinch colllar. They are amazing. They are also much better than choke collars because those can hurt the dogs throats.

That is what I used to get my dog to walk beside me. I would use it and always make her stay on my right ( im right handed) Then I would take it off and she would walk by my side. If she started to walk away I would put it back on her. Eventually she just always would stay by my side.

I am lucky she never was really interested in other dogs. She just doesnt care that much about having them around.


I also used bell training for potty training. I got a set of bells that I would hang on my door. Every time I would take my dog out I would ring the bell before I went out the door. Eventually, when she has to use the bathroom she will come up and ring the bell with her nose.

It works really well because you can hear it in other rooms. You have to be careful though because they know the bell means go outside so she will ring it sometimes just to go out.

Puppy's are a ton of trouble. If you like to go out alot and stay gone I would not get a dog unless you have a big yard they can play in. It's not fair to keep them cooped up inside all day. Especially high energy dogs.

[daryn]

yeah my dog also slept in his crate every night for the longest time. i tell him "go to your house" and he goes right in. lately i bought him one of those doggy beds though and he sleeps in my room. had occasional accidents in the beginning but everything has been fine for a while now.

here are some recent pics:

[katyseagull]

He's awesome Daryn. I just want to kiss his cute face. Boxers have gorgeous coats. Love that beautiful tan color. (He looks like a well behaved dog too!)

[RunDownHouse]

sharkbitten,

Nice dog. Here's Sam, grinning like usual:



She looks a bit dirty because Luke had been chewing on her head.



I love when these things turn into dog picture threads.