<p>I have an english springer spaniel who is the sweetest, most lovable dog you could imagine- he is absolutely happiest when he is laying at someones feet. and he’s a couch potato- never had much “spring” to him. plus, he never really shed. not too big, not too small, totally loyal. not a genius, but he doesnt walk into walls either.
i’m living with a german shephard now- he is a brilliant dog, but he sheds a lot. much cuddlier than i imagined a german shephard would be, but hes quite large! still, he makes a great guard dog for me (im on the small side) just in appearance- even though i dont think he would know what to do if someone actually tried to harm me.</p>
<p>Speaking of intelligence, I’m not sure if my sister’s beagle mix is stubborn or stupid (JK! I suspect there may have been a lack of continuity in the dog’s training.) But as sweet and dear as this dog is, she is an obedience school failure. Also, I think that certain behaviors are just hardwired into her (like barking…well, baying really… and hunting) and you just have to accept it.</p>
<p>baying and hunting are what beagles do!</p>
<p>Thanks so much, all you dog lovers out there…Just committed to a Havanese puppy with pick up the first of January…can’t wait! What would I do without the Parents’ Cafe?</p>
<p>Congratualations! Male or female (or maybe you don’t know yet)?</p>
<p>Don’t forget to send a birth announcement. 
Or has the blessed event already occurred?</p>
<p>Ah, they are such cute little fluff-balls! Congrats! I know your puppy will make a great addition to your family.</p>
<p>There are 5 in the litter due Oct. 26th…We’re aiming for a male as they say they’re a little ?? more easygoing…we’ll see…I feel like I’m adopting a child…the application was 2 pages long! This is nuts!! I guess the breed is prone to tons of health problems…so I had to be careful…er…</p>
<p>Sounds great! I’d do a male for sure. </p>
<p>If you think shopping for dorm stuff is bad, wait until you shop for puppy stuff!</p>
<p>Here’s a must have (in my opinion) - an eight foot diameter puppy pen (or exercise pen). You can set them up anyplace VERY easily and, later on, you can use them to block off large spaces from pup (stairs, the living room, keep them on the porch, whatever). We had our pups in there for weeks in middle of the kitchen when nobody could keep a direct eye on him and her, and when they weren’t safe just running around. (Not to be used in place of a crate though.)</p>
<p>How exciting!</p>
<p>Congrats!!! Be sure to “puppy-proof” your house-Havaneses are incredibly smart and prone to get into things. :)</p>
<p>its great that you have so much time to plan for the new arrival!! use this time to read up so you are as ready you can be. there are as many different opinions about how to raise a puppy as there are about how to raise a child – do some reading now and see what you will feel comfortable with. (i’ve recommended some of my picks in prior postings).
good luck and enjoy!!!
best item to have before the puppy arrives – a good enzyme cleaner (one brand is called Natures’ Miracle) for cleaning up those potty training mistakes!! :)</p>
<p>Read Culture Clash by Jean Donaldson BEFORE the puppy arrives. And good luck.</p>
<p>thanks for the book suggestions and I think that Nature’s Miracle truly is a miracle…our 20 year old Siamese has some health issues and that stuff is amazing!</p>
<p>I think a few people mentioned working with greyhound rescues, so I just wanted to post this. Apparently there’s some kind of a greyhound flu going around. </p>
<p>WASHINGTON - The mysterious respiratory disease that has swept greyhound racetracks across the country and also afflicted pet dogs is a type of flu an influenza strain that jumped from horses to dogs, researchers reported Monday. Such a rapid jump into a new species is rare; the flu usually evolves into new strains more gradually. But genetic tests of sick dogs found their disease almost identical to the H3N8 influenza strain that afflicts horses, scientists at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and University of Florida discovered. Moreover, they found evidence of widespread infection in racedogs around the country and in pets of various breeds in Florida and New York. Since this is a new virus for dogs, they are unlikely to harbor a natural immunity to it. There are no reports of people sickened by the new canine flu, which is genetically different from human flu strains and from the bird flu that has killed more than 60 people in Asia. The results were published online Monday by the journal Science. This new dog illness made headlines earlier this year as greyhound racetracks closed to control outbreaks. Veterinarians struggled to tell if the illness was a new variant of kennel cough or an entirely new disease. The CDC researchers counted outbreaks at 14 greyhound tracks in six states from June to August 2004, and at 20 tracks in 11 states between January and May 2005. It’s not clear how dangerous the new canine flu is to dogs. Some die, others experience only a fever and cough, but a large number show no symptoms at all, the researchers report. While most attention has focused on racing dogs, the researchers tested 70 dogs of various breeds with respiratory disease in Florida and New York pet shelters and veterinary clinics. Some 97 percent showed antibodies to the new canine flu strain. Tests of blood stored by racetracks suggests the new flu strain began infecting dogs sometime between 1999 and 2003, well before the first outbreaks were recognized, the researchers conclude.</p>