Speaking of dogs...

Parent Cafe
1

My husband and I both grew up with dogs, and as young marrieds H brought his dog along for the ride. “Radar” was truly his best buddy, and he lived with us for 10 years until we had D. At that point he was 15, old and very sick, and we lost him a few months after D was born. First time I ever saw H cry.

For various reasons, we never got around to getting another dog. Our kids grew up petless, which I never thought would happen, and I’ve always felt some sorrow about that.

Now my H turned 60 last week, and my youngest is 20. Our house will probably never be “finished” the way I always dreamed, but there’s no huge construction jobs left, and I work mostly from home. I was daydreaming about getting a dog, and found out that H has been thinking about it too.

What should I be considering? We’d like to get a shelter dog rather than a full bred. We think we’d rather have an adult than a puppy, but we both think we’re pretty good at housebreaking, or at least we used to be. It seems like pet ownership is WAY more expensive than it used to be, considering vet costs and quality food. Both H and I are in good health, so a fairly active dog would probably keep us that way, but a hyper dog would drive us nuts. H is concerned about what we would do with our new pal if we went on a trip ( we used to leave Radar at his parents), but I think we could figure that one out.

I’d be grateful for any advice or suggestions.

2

Puppies are so. much. work. I’d never, ever get another puppy again if I can help it. It’s not just the potty training- it’s the chewing, the growing, the rambunctiousness, the list goes on.

Given your parameters, I highly recommend working with a local rescue and getting a dog that has been in a foster home. This allows you to know whether or not they’re good with other dogs (if you want to kennel him/her while you go on trips) and gives you a much better sense of his/her personality than with a shelter dog.

If you’re worried about vet costs, pet insurance can be a very good thing. After my dog tore both of her ACLs within a year, I will absolutely buy insurance for my next dog.

Good dog food is expensive but, in my experience, the better the food the less they eat so it doesn’t end up being too much more.

Best of luck and I’m so happy that you’re opening up your home to a rescue :slight_smile:

3

If there is a breed that you think would fit your lifestyle, there are rescue organizations that take in dogs that need new homes for whatever reason. We have a very active Lab rescue in our area and I know several people who were able to get wonderful dogs from the rescue. I would go this route, primarily because the rescue organizations get to know the animals before adopting them out. You’re able to know what issues your dog has beforehand, which is helpful. Most dogs have some kind of issue, just like people, but I think it’s helpful to know what you may be dealing with because some things may be easier for you to deal with than others. For instance, I can deal with allergies and illnesses, but I wouldn’t want to deal with aggression because I don’t feel up to the kind of committed training that would require. But everyone’s situation and abilities are different.

While I wouldn’t necessarily advise it (we got lucky) Craigslist sometimes has animals that need new homes. Petfinder is another resource, but many of the animals on that site are shelter dogs. However, some shelters do foster their dogs before adoption and great pets can be found that way.

Good luck in your search!

*Cross posted with Romani.

4

(I’m a teenager) I grew up with two Labs, which were great. The second one of them died some 4 years ago; she was 16 years old, very old and frail, and my dad really loved her and couldn’t bear the thought of getting another dog right away. Plus at that a point the company he worked for was going through some unstable times, so we didn’t want to take on a dog. My mom kept looking for dogs though, on Craigslist and other such places. She looked for puppies and such, but didn’t really know what she wanted. She knew she didn’t want Pitt Bulls, she doesn’t like them, and the problem when she would look at Lab pups was that she couldn’t tell for certain that they didn’t have Pitt in them since their noses are similar. She didn’t want to spend the money for a certified pure Lab from good breeders because she’s have to give up breeding rights for it and she didn’t want that (she and my dad raised two litters of Lab puppies from a set of dogs they had prior to having kids.) Then last fall, the job situation stabilized, so she felt we could get a dog. I had gone to an activity where there happened to be some shelter dogs for display, and I played with some of them then came home and told my mom about it. She started thinking about shelter dogs, so she checked out a local shelter while running errands.

She didn’t find anything she liked at the first one; there were only about 10 dogs and they were really nasty, but the people there told her she should check out a larger one downtown. So, one day after a doctor appointment, she visited and looked at dogs and puppies. She ended up finding this 6 and a half year old female German Shepherd that had been surrendered a few months before. The dog was sweet and very alert, which my mom really liked. She was trying to decide if the whole family could come down and meet it, and the people told her that she could take the dog home for a week and foster it, and if she decided we didn’t want her, we could give her back. Well, of course you know what happened - my mom took her home and we all fell in love with her. We kept her, and she’s been a great dog. (She is sooooooo much smarter than our Labs were, lol.) I never knew a grown dog could adapt so quickly to a new place.

All I can say is, you should at least consider a shelter dog. They’ve got all shapes and sizes and ages of dogs and you can find a great dog there for not too much money, plus you’re giving an otherwise unwanted dog a home. Our dog had sat in the shelter for almost 4 months when my mom took her home, and I think the dog greatly appreciates our rescuing her. She is especially loving to my mom, and probably it’s because she’s the one that rescued her.

Edit: The shelter called the dog a Shepherd mix, but we couldn’t figure what she might be mixed with. Everybody there and at the vet that we took her too said she just looked like Shepherd, albeit a small one. Don’t really know because we don’t have papers or anything, but she’s likely purebred.

And my uncle’s girlfriend said this about puppies “Puppies are Highly overrated.”

5

Thanks,Romani, I was reading your pet thread, and ALMOST got scared off, but we have been there, with dogs rolling around on dead fish and anything else that stinks!

I agree that puppies are exhausting.My family bred German Shepherds when I was a kid, and I’m not so sure that I could handle all the property damage associated with the chewing and the rambunctiousness, My dear H is very attuned to animals, and he’s kind of like an animal magnet. He’s in construction, and visits lots of homes, and the pets are almost always drawn to him. Even wild animals like to hang out with him, which is pretty funny. D has the same gift, I guess, even though she’s a germaphobe and doesn’t encourage it. If there’s a dog or cat around, they’ll wind up sitting next to her.

Thanks for the suggestion about asking for a dog that has been fostered. I wouldn’t have thought of that.

6

There are a lot of purebreds in the shelters. We worked with a general rescue organization and the local shelters when we had very specific allergy needs. They were all very accommodating and let us know when a dog meeting our requirements came in. We always got older dogs. No more babies for me :slight_smile: We had a 7 year old rescue minipoodle that lived to 17. Research the breeds and traits that suit you. Even if the shelter dog is a mix, the predominate breed will most likley have those traits. We no longer have a diog since we travel so much now, but when we slow down some we will get another. We dog sit the grand-dog and it does make us get out and wlk more. There are a lot of dog sitters and care facilities now that are more than just rows of pens for when you are gone.

7

My pit is a rescue and she’s one of the best dogs I’ve ever had.

ALL dogs are individuals. NONE is representative of their breed (for good or bad). That is something to keep in mind when looking at any dogs.

8

You may want to see about fostering for a rescue with an eye toward adopting whatever dog seems best for you. It will also help you confirm that you are ready to adopt. We adopted a rescue who was listed as 9 months old but who vets said was closer to two years old. Aside from resolving some minor stomach issues in the beginning it has been great. Look for a rescue that fosters the dogs before they are adopted so they have an idea of the dog’s personality. A neighbor adopted through a group that pulls dogs from high kill shelters and trucks them north. She had to pick the dog up out of state because the group did not want to comply with state quarantine requirements. The dog does not engage with the family and is not one they would have adopted had they known.

9

^^^ I didn’t say that was MY view. I’m just telling what my mom didn’t want. She had some bad experiences with Pitt Bulls. Yeah, probably biased, I know. I’m sure there are many fine Pitts, just like with any breed.

10

Pitt is a college, pit bull is a group of dogs that are thrown under a banner because they have some loose physical similarities.

My point still stands- any dog that one gets should be based on his/her own disposition and not his/her perceived breed.

11

I agree with Romani that getting a dog through a good rescue organization where the dog has been in foster care at least briefly is your best bet, in terms of knowing what you are getting. Some shelters foster dogs out, also. All of the rescues I know around here advertise the dogs on Petfinder, which is probably the best place to start looking. There are breed-specific rescues, and general rescues. While some dogs are surrendered directly to rescues, many are taken out of shelters by rescues, especially high-kill shelters in the South. I live in Maine, and I would say that a solid 50% of the dogs I meet at the dog park are rescues who were shipped up here from the South! Breed-specific rescues tend to develop relationships with area shelters, who call them when a dog of that breed comes in.

The process of getting approved to adopt a dog can vary in its length and complexity. They won’t let you just walk in and take a dog. They want to make sure that the dog has a good home, and want the adoption to be successful and your home to be the dog’s forever home. Don’t be insulted that there are questionnaires to fill out and hoops to jump through. That you are adults with no little kids, have someone at home during the day, and own your house rather than renting an apartment are all factors in your favor. Many rescues require a home visit, but in my experience this is a pleasant visit with a fellow dog lover. Many, many of them will demand a fenced yard. I do not have a fenced yard, yet I have convinced two rescues to let me have a dog by describing to them how I manage my dogs. Since you haven’t had one in recent years, you’ll have to think about that. You also will not have a vet reference, while I had a vet who has been taking care of our dogs for 20 years and knows that we are responsible owners who will go the extra mile for a dog.

Both of the rescue Goldens I’ve adopted have been in the 1-2 year range, housebroken, but otherwise untrained.

If I were you, I would start by searching for dogs in your area using Petfinder. You will most likely be able to identify a few rescues in your area. I would fill out the online adoption application for a couple of them to get the ball rolling. If you are an approved home, you can act fast when a dog of the type you want shows up.

If you need advice about the application, what to say, planning, etc, feel free to PM me. :slight_smile:

ETA: I don’t know if it would be a good idea for you to foster, since you haven’t had a dog in 20 years or so. Dogs coming into foster have usually been through a lot, at the very least multiple homes/environments, and often spay/neuter, worming, heartworm treatment, you name it. They are not always the easiest dogs.

12

I work in assisted living facility. Many of my residents have had to give up their animals to move into a facility . Many of them advertise at local vets or kennels. You may want to check there. I might also add that while you are very active now, you need to plan for the future so I’d recommend a well trained dog or one that is not extremely large so that as you age your pet can be easily managed. I’ve had several pts who have sustained injuries such as broken hips and arms trying to manage their pets.

13

That’s very good information, Consolation. I did notice that dog ownership has gotten more complicated than when we were young. I always expected H to bring home a stray from a job site one day, but I guess he was too heartbroken and wasn’t ready. We were offered a pup from a Dalmatian litter once, but I was the one who wasn’t ready. I know that they ask probing questions these days, and they really should. We have a fenced in yard, but I might take offense at some unexpected question.I’ll try not to. H is more likely to be offended, because he doesn’t pay much attention to how times have changed. I’ll have to prep him, ha ha. I tell myself that he needs a dog more than I do, but I’m thinking that I really need one too.This will probably take some time,but I would love to keep you informed as to our progress. I just found out that H was interested tonight, but I’ve been thinking about it for a week.

14

My suggestion:

Get a small to medium size, adult dog from a local shelter or rescue. That way you will providing a good home to a dog in need, and will know what you are getting in terms of the dog’s personality.

You can use online info to help “shop” for a dog, but don’t commit to a dog unless you are able to spend time with it fist. See how it responds to you; get a sense of its personality.

I say small to medium size because you are older. I had larger dogs in the past, but when I was in my mid-50’s with an elderly, infirm, 65-lb dog – I was afraid that if the dog collapsed, I would’t be able to lift her. So my dog-adoption rule became: a dog that I know that I will be able to carry when I am 10 years older than I am now. In other words, I currently own two dogs that aren’t too large for a 66 year old woman to carry.

Also, large breeds tend to need more exercise, especially when younger. It’s good for you to consider the dog’s need for exercise as a net positive – but it’s got to be a level of exercise that fits what you can provide. I take my little dogs on a walk around the neighborhood every day… but I don’t think I could keep up with a frisky lab or manage to take any dogs running these days. My little guys get their share of “running” by racing around the house and yard. A large dog would need a lot more space.

15

You will probably be asked about crate training. I suggest reading up a bit. You may also be asked about food. I can suggest a number of good kibbles–NOT supermarket brands–that you can feed. As Romani–I think–said above, feeding a quality food isn’t as pricey as you would think, since they eat less of it. (And poop less! :slight_smile: ) They will want to hear that the dog will live indoors with you., that you will take it to obedience training, that you will use a good boarding kennel or hire a pet sitter if you leave it, and so forth.

A lot of this seems automatic to responsible dog owners, but you would be AMAZED at what some people do. Or don’t do.

16

Yes, their poop is less and easier to clean! Ahem…

I will also absolutely second calmom’s suggestions of dog size. Of course, it’s all about your preference. I do notice that the VERY large breeds tend to be lazy couch potatoes (I’m thinking like Great Dane size here).

On the other hand, if the dog is a bit more active than you’d like, a trip to a doggie park once or twice a week can get some of that extra energy out… and they get to hang out with doggie friends!

17

For the sporting breeds and hounds especially, it helps to have access to an off-leash area where the dogs can really run and play. Leash walking is not going to cut it for a German Shorthaired Pointer or a Vizla, who literally can run flat out for an hour at a time, and really needs 1 1/2- 2 hours of exercise a day when young to remain sane. :slight_smile: BTDT. Most dogs aren’t that extreme. You can exercise most labs and German Shepherds or Border Collies by throwing a ball over and over again until s/he is exhausted.

18

This is exactly the kind of information I was looking for! I get it on dog size. I grew up with German Shepherds, but H’s dog was a Shepherd/Terrier mix, the perfect size for us then, and even now. I’d go smaller.Good idea to think of how much dog you can lift 10 years from now.On the other hand, no relationship is perfect, so we could fall in love with an inconveniently large dog. I’ll try not to do that.

Of course our dog would live inside, with us, part of the family. I’m concerned about crating, because I don’t understand it. It wasn’t something we did with any of our dogs, so I’d need to learn about that. We have a nice yard for exercising, plus I live near the beach, and you can exercise your dogs there during the fall-spring months, and during the summer in the early morning on certain beaches. Which I’d have to commit to, haha, and which would do me a world of good.

19

In my opinion, crate training is a must. My two, 11.5 and 6 years old, actually go to their crates on their own. We only crate them now when we are not home, and their crates are side by side in the kitchen. Funny story, one night when heading out to dinner we told the dogs to get in the crate. I was turning the tv on for them while my husband went to get their treats. He gave them the treat and we left. Hours later when we arrived home, both dogs are in their crates asleep, but neither of the doors were closed. It seems we both though the other was going to lock the crate doors, and neither one of us did. I really was surprised that they didn’t bother to get out since the doors were opened.

20

Snowball, why is crating a must? I learned about this in the late 80’s, when out old boy was way past training.