Anyone ever bought a dog .....

[yello]

I don't know about rescue dogs but I'd be looking to get to know the dog, take it for walks, see it interact with kids, other dogs and see if it responds to some basic commands and shows an ability to learn them.

It is a bit of a lottery as it can be difficult to know just how being in the rescue centre might be effecting the dog, particularly if the dog is new to the centre. You can understand that, for the dog, those first few days/weeks are confusing and stressing - be it frightening or exciting or anywhere in-between. You can only guess how they'll re-act in a more relaxed environment.

Rescue centre are emotionally tough places to visit. You have to be quite steely in your resolve, otherwise you'll adopt just about all of them!

 

[shouldbeinbed]

<snipped for brevity>

Thats quite a catalogue and I wouldn't want to swap that experience for all the love the dog'd give me beforehand but again its like saying all cyclists RLJ, your experience is yours, it isn't stereotypical of what happens to everyone but you're selling it as this is what WILL happen to the OP if they get a dog.

My dad's death from cancer was horrendous and protracted but I don't see it as typical and I'm not about to suggest everyone euthanises their parents now to avoid my experience.

 

[compo]

My wife has a little dog, a Yorkie/Westie cross. She had it before we met so I have become stepdad! I'm a Lurcher lover myself but my wife's dog wouldn't tolerate another dog in the house. Now at my age I wouldn't consider a puppy as it is perfectly possible the dog could outlive us, plus my ability to exercise the dog could well become difficult. I guess when the little dog has gone we wont have another one.

 

[Linford]

Thats quite a catalogue and I wouldn't want to swap that experience for all the love the dog'd give me beforehand but again its like saying all cyclists RLJ, your experience is yours, it isn't stereotypical of what happens to everyone but you're selling it as this is what WILL happen to the OP if they get a dog.

My dad's death from cancer was horrendous and protracted but I don't see it as typical and I'm not about to suggest everyone euthanises their parents now to avoid my experience.

We certainly don't euthanise our pets unless their quality of life has deterirated to the point they tell you they have had enough. She is still happy enough, but geriatric now with age related issues. I think if you get a smaller dog, you will undoubtedly end up handling a raft of problems as they generally live much longer.
I'm not saying that you won'r get a loving pet, but everyone I have ever known who has had pets long enough all say the same thing.

 

[shouldbeinbed]

We certainly don't euthanise our pets unless their quality of life has deterirated to the point they tell you they have had enough. She is still happy enough, but geriatric now with age related issues. I think if you get a smaller dog, you will undoubtedly end up handling a raft of problems as they generally live much longer.
I'm not saying that you won'r get a loving pet, but everyone I have ever known who has had pets long enough all say the same thing.

sorry, wasn't suggesting euthanising the dog, was just giving an example that we all have different experiences of those that we love at the end of a life and can't project that experience onto everything else for everyone else.

Had dogs and cats for years, lost a good few and never had anything like the experience you describe, I'm also quite active in the dog (not dogging ) community on twitter. The vast majority of the 'rainbow bridge' tweets are sudden or quick deaths after short illnesses.
Our last loss was last year to a brain haemorrage, he went from apparently fine to dead in our arms in 15 minutes flat.

 

[Kies]

Thanks for your responses. I didn't realise the amount of time and comittment needed to look after a dog.
Not something we as a family can do right now,so i'll take the kids over to my friends and play with his new labrador puppy

 

[lulubel]

I have grown up with dogs and even had one myself once, I will never do that again as find them to tying.

I find cats tying, and for that reason, I will get a dog in the future. My OH and I often said (before he became ill) that we wished Sam was a dog, so we could take him places with us.

 

[Gromit]

I find cats tying, and for that reason, I will get a dog in the future. My OH and I often said (before he became ill) that we wished Sam was a dog, so we could take him places with us.

I have seen a lady on an archaeology dig who had cats, she lived in a camper van, so was able to take her cats everywhere with her.

We don't find having a cat tying especially as we have an army of cat feeders who come round to help out when we are away.

 

[lulubel]

We've never left our cats alone for longer than a normal working day. They're indoor cats, so they're as dependent on you as dogs, only not so easy to take places with you.

(We've always taken our cats on holiday with us, though. It's a bit harder to find places to stay with cats, but not as hard as finding somewhere with decent internet access!)

 

[Lanzecki]

+1 Rescue dog. Give one another chance.

We re-homed a young Terrier. The nicest thing you've ever know. Much nicer then by Border Collie and Springer

Don't go too big. The smaller it is, the less walking YOU will end up doing.

 

[Sara_H]

[QUOTE 2271936, member: 9609"]Whilst in the garden by himself our last dog tried to get a large stick (actually it was more like a small tree) between my wifes new car and the side of the house. It was astonishing how much damage he done to the side of the car in probablt less than half an hour. The stick was so jammed between the wall and the car door we had to move the car to free it. I think the repair bill was also about £500 (and that was about 18 years ago)

Presumably since your dog is rolling in stuff you are having to wash him - dogs that are regularily washed often do stink, we have never ever washed our dog (black lab) and he has no odour problems.[/quote]
No we vever wash him, bad for a labs coat, we spot clean the area's when he's roled in poo or dead animals. Its the fact that he rolls indead stuff and the fact that he eats poo that make him so stinky!

 

[pubrunner]

. . .Rhodesian Ridgeback, so a big lad, placid, asleep on my knee at the moment!

I had a Ridgeback (Kinza variety) for 12 years; they are brilliant dogs. I'm unsure as to why they aren't more popular . . . . . . . . perhaps it's because they'll eat even more than a labrador.

As you say, big dogs - the size of ours certainly deterred scumbags. I hope I'll be in a position to get another one, some time in the future.

 

[Noodley]

And lastly, don't get one unless you're prepared to incorporate it into your life and don't just want one because they look good sprawled on the mat in front of the fire.

My wife made that mistake in her choice of husband

 

[pubrunner]

If want an 'indication' of character, then you need to see the parents or grandparents . . .

Read, read and read. No two opinions will be the same , so a consensus is what you're looking for.

I don't know about rescued women, but I'd be looking to get to know the woman, take her for walks, see her interact with your friends, other women and see if she responds to some basic commands and shows an ability to learn them.

Don't underestimate the costs, insurance, a decent diet, handbags, shoes , socializing classes, training books, leads, worn out boots from walking everywhere, it all adds up to a significant monthly sum.

And lastly, don't get one unless you're prepared to incorporate it into your life and don't just want one because they look good sprawled on the mat in front of the fire.

^^^ The above checklist certainly worked for me !

If all these factors are in place, then you are ready to accept that special woman into your life

 

[Crackle]

^^^ The above checklist certainly worked for me !

If all these factors are in place, then you are ready to accept that special woman into your life

I can't put my finger on it but I feel my post is being misrepresented somehow......