View Full Version : Advice on puppies (the furry sort).....
The missus wants to get a puppy and I'm not sure. I am concerned about the amount of time that we don't spend at home and leaving it alone to wreck the house.
Anybody done this, got any advice?
Nik
Okay...
First off, if your not gonna spend much time at home, I.e. You both work, then you need to consider the following...
1) One of you will have to walk the little blighter in the morning probably around 6:30am ish just to be sure of getting to work...
2) One of you will have to take some time off to aid the little fella getting his wearabouts sorted and settling him in.
3) If your not there and are at work house training is going to take FOREVER, when they start going, its the pickem up and ruch them to the newspaper near the door trick; which whilst at work you wont be able to do.
4) You ever come home nackered from work? Well the little energy ball will be fully recharged when you get home, and then you have to walk it!
Dont get me wrong, puppies are brilliant :D (didnt know your misses had a hairy chest - had to say it ;) ) But require alot of attention.
What the hell get one anyway :P
Supraman1
12-11-2002, 17:21
Puppies are almost as much work as a baby (according to a mate who has had both) and having a dog is just like having a kid. ie you can't go on holiday without organising someone to look after it or giving it to someone to look after, you can't stay out overnight without the same, it will mean you have to plan stuff like that in advance (for the next ten-twelve years until the dog is no more!) rather than doing it on a whim. You will now have a dependent, who relies upon you for pretty much everything.
Dogs are great though :)
Thanks guys,
I had suspected that there would be a lot of work involved. We went to visit one of her mates who has two labradors and I think that may have been a mistake cos they were really cool dogs and they made it look easy!
I am really tempted, but I'm not gonna let the missus know that cos they'll be dogs everywhere before I know it:eek:
Nik
PS Vez - it's not too bad as long as she shaves her nipples:D
Go for it, although its a responsiility, I wouldn't be without my dog, puppies are great fun too, although their eating habits can be weird and expensive!
Got my dog as a puppy, they are brilliant fun :)
Get One Get One Get One Get One...
But get an Irish Setter though :)
Aren't Irish Setters quite difficult to train?
She wants a chocolate or black lab, and I think they have a good temprament. I would still prefer a Boxer or a Staf though.
Nik
amcluesent
12-11-2002, 17:44
Get a Sony Aibo then you can just switch the little blighter off when you don't want to play;)
Originally posted by NikB
Aren't Irish Setters quite difficult to train?
She wants a chocolate or black lab, and I think they have a good temprament. I would still prefer a Boxer or a Staf though.
Nik
Do you have or have kids in close proximity. If so, I'd only ever trust one dog(almost) with kids, I'll probably get flamed for saying it, but a properly looked after Staff is probably the most trustworthy dog you can get. My son , nearly 2 can do whatever he like's to my dog, and he tolerates all of it. Knows he musn't retaliate and just sits there with a "please help me" look. Blinding dogs, wouldn't have any other sort now. They've gained a bad reputation because of a few stupid people.
If you spend a lot of time out, don't look at a German Shepherd. They may be one of the most intelligent of breeds, but their power of destruction is incredible. :rolleyes:
I always thought about a Bassett. No matter how depressed you are, something always looks worse. :eek:
Whatever you get though, be careful to check the pedigree. There are so many problems with pedigrees and certain breeds with illness weaknesses.
Hayley.
Absolutely get one. Bit of a pain in the @rse sometimes but otherwise great fun.
And heres my suggestion: Bischon Frisé
http://www.pp.htv.fi/aetholen/Image11.jpg
Originally posted by GT
Do you have or have kids in close proximity. If so, I'd only ever trust one dog(almost) with kids, I'll probably get flamed for saying it, but a properly looked after Staff is probably the most trustworthy dog you can get. My son , nearly 2 can do whatever he like's to my dog, and he tolerates all of it. Knows he musn't retaliate and just sits there with a "please help me" look. Blinding dogs, wouldn't have any other sort now. They've gained a bad reputation because of a few stupid people.
My sister has a Staffy and a 2-year old daughter. Never had any problems with the dog and the kiddy - they seem to be fantastic with kids :)
Nik, another thing to think of is the cost - dogs can be expensive. It's not just the kennelling when you go on holiday, or the vet bills etc but the start-up costs and the on-going expenses. (Yeah, I know, so speaks the woman who doesn't actually own a dog - but at one stage me and the former mr-TAC were hoping to get a Great Dane - and the running costs for a dog of that size are frightening!!)
How about an older dog instead? Already house-trained etc...get two and they can keep each other company while you're at work! :D
Or how about a doggy like mine? (His name's Sam :D )
<img src="http://www.stimpy.dsl.pipex.com/MeDoggy.jpg">
Go on, you know you want to :D
SteveCarter200
13-11-2002, 01:18
Get a cat.
Originally posted by SteveCarter200
Get a cat.
Why, to exercise the dog?
Originally posted by GT
Why, to exercise the dog?
:D :D
dave_s13
13-11-2002, 09:10
I wouldn't contemplate a puppy unless there was someone at home for at least half of the day.
Very young dogs don't like being on their own and will find ways to occupy themselves; this will include eating your house then $hitting/pi$$ing all over the devastation.
Its a much better idea to go to the rescue centre and pick one thats a bit older and already knows how to behave. There's loads of dogs at the RSPCA/NCDL that need somewhere to live, and it won't cost you anywhere near as much ££££ to get a rescue dog.
At least visit a rescue centre before going to a pet shop or a breeder, I gaurantee you'll fall in love with one of the hairy little feckers locked up in one of them places.
I've got 2 rescued dogs we got one at 9 years old from the NCDL and r lass found the other one eating out of the school dustbins, he's about 3 now and there both top dogs. Very clever and they'll do as there told most of the time.
Its also a very good idea to sychronise your next week of work with getting the dog so you can spend time with it in its new home; otherwise there's a good chance you'll be arriving back from work with a lot of cleaning up to do every night.
If you can get one..these are the coolest dogs on the planet
http://www.ukdogs.org/utility/sharpei/pictures/cropped%20blue%20basket%20(1).jpg
Irish setter aint difficult to train, our house trained its self the clever *******....
They make great sniffer dogs too (well ours does)...
Everytime he goes out for a walk he sniffs out a new tennis ball.
Hes sniffed out a Crossbow bolt on a school playing field...and the Police werent arsed :eek:
Hes found a VERY large baggy of Acid, he sat there with it hung out of his mouth with a look of, "Look what Ive got". We'd found a drug drop off point ;)
Hes found me a pair of gloves, he found one one day and the other the next!
With very little effort we can string a sentance together and he'll understand...
Like
go FETCH your TENNIS BALL, UPSTAIRS in ALI's ROOM! (thats a five word sentance and he bounds off to get a tennis ball from where we told him, he knows the difference between tennis balls and other balls and most of the rooms names too) - clever goit!
I though if he understood that, he'd understand "Fetch me a beer out of the frige!" that only has three key words too, may be he does understand, and is just being ignorant to piss me off!!! :D
Thanks for all the advice guys, it's a great help and has given me plenty to think about!
It sounds like it's a load of hassle, but worth it for what you get back out of it. I had considered going to the RSPCA and rescuing one (got to be the best thing to do) but having heard what some people have been through to get approved, I don't think we would be allowed to take one (because of both of us working). I know that breeders will grill you as well, but I think you can get away with stringing the 'working at home' line easier.
Looked at getting a cat and I have discovered that I am dangerously allergic to them so can't have one.
The funny thing about getting a dog is the missus thinks it'll get me fit, what she doesn't realise is that it will be able to find it's way to the local whatever the weather and whereever we start from:D
Cheers
Nik
BTW what sort of dog is that Dave?
dave_s13
13-11-2002, 09:48
Originally posted by NikB
I had considered going to the RSPCA and rescuing one (got to be the best thing to do) but having heard what some people have been through to get approved
You got to at least try m8.
We both work full time, I get home at lunch time at least 3 times a week to walk em and the NCDL said this was fine. They wouldn't give us a puppy on that basis however, it had to be an older dog (at least 3 years old).
No ofeence m8 but it really pi$$es me off when people get a new dog from a breeder without even going and having a look in the rescue centres. Fair enough if there's nothing in there that you like or they won't let you have one then thats fine go for it with a pet shop or a breeder but at least give it a try.
That a sharpei BTW theres one near us and when I walk past with my dogs it jumps up and down at the gate; they've got really wierd loose skin and it jiggles all over the place...funny as fook it is.
Also, have you considered a greyhound?? there are specialist rescue centres for them that deal with the fallout from the racing business. Excersice wise there one of the least demanding dogs you can get and they're really impressive to watch when your down the park and there chasing after a ball at 40mph.
Another thing is you must get it insured, if our old fella wasn't insured he'd not be around anymore. Amogst other things he's had both legs operated on @ £650 each.....as much as we love him there's no way we could've afforded that.
Well,
when I was 9, my parents decided to get another hound as we live in the country... We ended up with 2 puppies!
Although I was only nione, I worked for the dog press for a while later and picked up a few points....
First, puppies ARE hard work. They need plenty of patience and attention. Our destroyed the kitchen floor and cabinets even though we got home on a regular basis (think my parents made it at least once every 2 hours tops). Muzzles cured that! To make it even more incredible, they were only small at teh time (smaller than a Jack russell)!
Second, if you aren't going to at home all day, get a breed that is historically easy to train and not hyper intelligent. Dalmations are gorgous but bright as the brightest button and also willfull...
Third, you want to consider final size! Sounds obvious but many people don't...
Fourth, I would recommend a cross-breed without a second thought. Not only are they chepaer to buy, but they are generally healthier, more intelligent than some pure breeds and infinately cheaper in the long run. (An example of bad pure-breds would be Cavalier King Charles Spaniels - every one has a heart mumur due to irresponisble breeding in the early 1900s)
Fifth, please consider the RSPCA or a similar rehoming organistaion. Not only do they do a SUPERB job, but some of those animals REALLY REALLY need a loving home. My mum's first dog came from a rehoming organistation and had had the worst life imaginable before. SHe turned out to be the most loyal dog in the world after a little love.
As for the checks and approval, these just ensure that suitable people receive a dog. It is a great thing IMHO
Sixth, 2 dogs do keep each other company, I know ours do and now after having 2, I would be reluctnat to go back to just one. You do double up on food, vets bills etc, and also run the risk of fights (even the most placid dogs get pissed in each others company a bit like humans). IMHO the benefits of 2 outweigh the costs...
Well, hope that helps some... let us know how it goes!!!
Oh BTW, could you take the dog to work with you, as an office hound?
Originally posted by Starionman
Fourth, I would recommend a cross-breed without a second thought. Not only are they chepaer to buy, but they are generally healthier, more intelligent than some pure breeds and infinately cheaper in the long run. (An example of bad pure-breds would be Cavalier King Charles Spaniels - every one has a heart mumur due to irresponisble breeding in the early 1900s)
We have had 3 GSD's, all with probems.
Our first bitch, we lost at 14 months old. One of the hardest things I have ever hqad to do. Stomach problems.
Our dog, had to rehome him because of tmperament. We lived in town and he bit someone. There were too many kids around to keep him. They use to tease him on the way to school. Also destroyed the house - fridge, freezer, cooker, fridge-freezer, wiring, carpets, skirting boards, tooo much to list.
Shelby (our bitch now) is 19 months old, and we have no long term outlook for her. Her food costs us £35 a bag and is luckily keeping her alive at the moment.
Insurance covers the vet bills, over £1000 last claim and this years hasn't been totalled yet, but the food is not included.
Dogs are wonderful to have and give so much affection. :)
dave_s13
13-11-2002, 12:05
This might be of interest
http://www.ncdl.co.uk/
Originally posted by GT
Why, to exercise the dog?
PML Excellent.
Get urself a wee Collie, lovely dogs, always happy.
My sis's 18month old knocks seven shades out of it, and it dont even look at him funny.
And they are very protective.
But then again mine has taken a liking to the lino in the kitchen of late:(
Ex had a lab.
Slobered everywhere, was mingin!!
If ur eating, it just sits and watches u, and by the time ur finished a pack off crisps, there is an actual pool off drool below it.
They are fookin powerful too, but alot of fun if trained properly.
New wee woman has 3 cats. Hate em!!
Keep brushing thereselves against me when i dont expect it.
Fell asleep at hers the other night, woke up with a bloody black cat 2" from my face, just starin at me.
Shat a ton!!!
Ps. Stimpy, he is a cracker.:D
Kev
dave_s13
13-11-2002, 15:53
Originally posted by Kevs 200sx
Fell asleep at hers the other night, woke up with a bloody black cat 2" from my face, just starin at me.
Shat a ton!!!
:D :D
Its a tad disconcerting to wake up and find a pussy sat on yer face int it:p
Yes indeed!!
It was my gf pussy too:p :D
Pity it wasnt the other..................
Thanks for the adcice guys, here's the latest:
I was just getting used to the idea of starting to look for a dog and thinking about going to rescue one. The missus went to see a breeder last week and saw a pup and put a deposit on it there and then! I think it is difficult to say no when somebody hands you one of these things. Anyway he arrives on Sunday, so I would like to introduce Louie the Labrador. All together now ahhhhh!
:D Dogs are ace! :D Mans best friend n all that!
nice looking mut, wait to you see beyond those puppy eyes!!!!!
rescue homes are very good but you dont always know what your getting, like our alsatian/lercher thing? still dont know eactly what it is but its mad as a march hare, but wouldnt change him for the world. funniest thing was the home said not to be put with kiddies under 13 years of age but yet my 10 month old adores him and he is good as gold.
again mans best friend, and kiddies!!!
it wil bring you a lot of happiness, for a long time and a lot of:mad: while its a pup, good luck and have fun
Thats one damn cute puppy mate :)
Good luck, they get big ;)
Dave
jim potter
21-11-2002, 09:20
get a springer spaniel and call him / her JERRY, hence u will have a dog called jerry springer. :D ....
but seriously, i have a springer who is now nearly 2, a excellent dog, very intelligent, loads of energy and great with kids. and as a bonus he hates the postman :D
lastly , don't gt a dog if u aint gonna be there most of the day, coz it aint fair on the fuzz ball.
good luck and choose well
jim potter
dave_s13
21-11-2002, 09:24
Originally posted by NikB
The missus went to see a breeder last week and saw a pup and put a deposit on it there and then!
"WOMEN............KNOW YOUR LIMITS!!!"
At least you can always use the...."you clean up that steaming pile of $hite, its your fuking dog".......routine.
I must say though
AAAUUUWWWW look a da likkle puppy
Good name as well, mines called Lewis (louie for short), here he is with his favorite pants on.
http://www.dave.gixxer.com/pics/lewis05.jpg
and this his how he chills out whilst watching telly
http://www.dave.gixxer.com/pics/lewis02.jpg
Good luck with him m8.
Originally posted by Ale
Absolutely get one. Bit of a pain in the @rse sometimes but otherwise great fun.
And heres my suggestion: Bischon Frisé
http://www.pp.htv.fi/aetholen/Image11.jpg
You mean a tampon dog??? (ok for an elephant or something)
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