Dogs

Seriously think about this – the jump from rodent to dog is HUGE. Having a dog involves lifestyle changes, more so than ‘rodents’ or cats.

CD5/112/150/S5e's/smiling

What Occean said. We planned for two years, put a new fence round the garden, rearranged the dining room and had a patio door put in as part of the process. We were a pet free house before. Quite apart from all the laughs and joy, our four legged friend has been a good source of excersise - never a bad thing.



Don't let the fact she's more a dot than a dog fool you. She'll guard you to the death and can walk/run/play all day. Small but sturdy. And (believe it or not) allowed in any pub by law - an anchient bit of royal sillyness that's never been repealed.

I believe that dogs as we know them are merely projections into this universe of one facet of a master race who control us.

Cheers

Harry

So thats what happened to Berlin Fritz .

Roger.

I don't know who he was but she loves her skull. There's good eating on one of them.

Cheers

Harry

Seemed to die happy, whoever it was!

Oh yes. No long faces allowed in our house.

Harry

We have an Alaskan Malamute. All I can say is DON'T GET ONE or a Husky.

We could never go back to a conventional breed. Malamutes, like other sledge dog breeds, think for themselves and can display alpha dog tendencies (ours is very dominant) and you have to know how to deal with it. Can't be trained conventionally either. If you tell a malamute to do something the first thing they will do is ask "why?". If they can see a good reason they will do it. Otherwise they will ignore you.

I'm posting this because a lot of people are attracted to sled-dog breeds because they are very attractive but don't realise what they are getting themselves into.

Most of them kill cats on sight, too.

Deane

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Originally posted by Deane F:
Most of them kill cats on sight, too.
Deane

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So they're not all bad, then?

Regards,
Davie

quote:

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Originally posted by Deane F:
We have an Alaskan Malamute. All I can say is DON'T GET ONE or a Husky.

We could never go back to a conventional breed. Malamutes, like other sledge dog breeds, think for themselves and can display alpha dog tendencies (ours is very dominant) and you have to know how to deal with it. Can't be trained conventionally either. If you tell a malamute to do something the first thing they will do is ask "why?". If they can see a good reason they will do it. Otherwise they will ignore you.

I'm posting this because a lot of people are attracted to sled-dog breeds because they are very attractive but don't realise what they are getting themselves into.

Most of them kill cats on sight, too.

Deane

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Sounds exactly like yer average cat.

Cheers

Harry

My post sounds pretty negative when I read it back to myself so I have to emphasise that we would never have a conventional breed as a pet.

Nika is a real dog. She has grown up and fits in our pack. She is constantly aware of possible opportunities to assert her position, such as when strangers turn up on the property and go "what a lovely dog!" and BEND DOWN to her which from her point of view is an attempt at dominance so she thinks "Hey, the fight is on!!"... So we have to think ahead with her and have our property set up well and make sure that visitors take note of our instructions to ignore her.

She is self-possessed. We don't own her. She doesn't own us. She has good days and bad days and is not eternally happy like a labrador. She likes some people and not others (she likes my father-in-law but hates my mother-in-law.)Unlike most breeds she could easily take care of herself in the wild. She is not a puppy her whole life like most breeds (but becomes very puppy-like when it snows).

We have two cats which are part of her family but she is a blur of motion if ever she sees a strange cat on the property.

Much like a cat I guess - just faster and deadlier.

Deane

We're looking after some friends' "dog" for the week.

Its just been sick, fortunately on the tiled kitchen floor rather than a carpet.

Its now outside in the rain...

All this is making Guinea Pigs seem like an excellent idea again.

PS Deane, I presume you'll be getting something like a snow leopard next. . .

Alex,

Don't be put off of having a dog, just think long and hard before you take the plunge. The commitment and devotion required is vast but the rewards of a loyal friend and companion far outway the effort involved.
I have an Old English Sheepdog, only reccomended if you can commit to the grooming and constant attention that they require. They love company and constant mental stimulation, if you can give this then they are superb dogs to own, if you can't they become very rapidly grumpy and a bit of a handful. Like Deane's Malamute, Sheepdogs will also stop and consider if they fancy doing something when asked, if they do then no problem. If not then you can shout and scream until blue in the face and get absolutely nowhere.
Hope you make the right choice for you, can only say I have never regretted for one minute having my dog.

Regards

a good staffy takes some beating, it will be totaly safe with your children,in fact they are one of the onely dogs i would trust with a very young child they dont mind young kids prodding etc and are very protective towards family members. they do need a bit of exersise and do need teaching from an early age not to fight they get on fine with cats etc. people i know who have owned one would have no other breed.mine used to come to work with me(in a hi fi shop), and was never any trouble .get one you will not regret it!

Alex S

My wife would love a snow leopard, I'm sure!

It's hard to describe how much different and how much more rewarding a real dog is than a pet dog. I grew up with dogs but Nika is more like a wolf than a dog. The highs of owning her are higher than a pet dog but the lows are much lower.

Think long and hard Alex. I would have to say that if you are prepared to put as much time into being a dog owner as you are into being a parent to each of your children - then get a dog.

Deane

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Think long and hard Alex. I would have to say that if you are prepared to put as much time into being a dog owner as you are into being a parent to each of your children - then get a dog.

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Hell no! I don't want to waste another hour a week.

(Sorry, rather obvious).

Anyway, I have a suspicion that a 'small garden' in NZ may be about the size of the park down the road. I fear Real dogs may be for Real families living in Real places.

Dear all,

Sorry. Me choosing a pet is starting to look like Nuno choosing a CD player or a hi-fi rack.

Snow leopards

I've just aquired a pair of Bengal kittens. These are 7 generations away from the "Asian Snow Leopard", Their characters are stunning, very different to normal domestic cats, highly recommended, very intelligent and much less restriction than dogs. Although having owened German Sheperds for over 15 years, I still miss the fun times out walking with the dogs, but not the restrictions dog ownership brings....

Bengals - now you're talking about a great pet!

My sister got one last year and it is the most amazing animal I have ever seen. So friendly yet some great wild cats traits.

So this year my girlfriend and I got 2 for ourselves, actually bengal crossed with Mainecoon (as we like BIG cats mainecoon being the largest domestic breed) and they are truely wonderful. (Odie the white male is currently approaching 6lb at 16 weeks old!)

Check here for some pics. There are 2 pics of their father the bengal in that bunch too, being held by the breeder.


CD5/112/150/S5e's/smiling

[This message was edited by Occean on Sat 30 October 2004 at 19:27.]

Alex

People in all sorts of situations own dogs. Our property is a little smaller than 1/5 of an acre (0.0766 hectares).

You just have to think your way around the problems that your situation presents to dog ownership if you and your family really want a dog. If your property is small then you will have to make even more effort to take the dog out a lot. (This means every day, rain or shine, when you are sick, tired or whatever.) Not many dogs like to toilet repeatedly on their own territory. If you have to leave the dog alone in the house a lot then you must make sure that there is some amusement for it. A dog that is left alone a lot and gets bored can self-mutilate or mutilate your furniture (or loudspeakers!!!).

Be prepared for veterinary costs somewhere along the line. This will be when you least expect it and it will never be cheap.

Dogs are social creatures and hierarchy is important. I'm not sure how young your children are but NEVER leave a dog alone with a baby. This may sound paranoid but any dog is capable of jealousy and any dog is capable of inflicting harm. Also, educate your children about the dog's understanding of the world. If you get breed that is any larger than a lap-dog make sure your children know not to lie down belly-up to the dog. This just confuses the dog - who is quite happy being at the bottom of the pack.

I hope that you do get a dog. The rewards can be incredible. I'm assuming that you live in the UK which sounds dog-friendly which makes travelling a lot easier.

Deane

Occean - stunning kittens and pics, nice one!

Ours have only been with us for barely 2 weeks, already I can tell what a great pet they're gonna be, had lots of cats in the past but these are something special. They already respect that my Briks are not for sitting/sleeping on, seem to be learning the ropes pretty fast!

Showed my wife your pics, she said, "Ahhh, look at those cuties"

I read somewhere they like water, some even enjoy a swim, is that right?

The breeder we bought from kept a Barn owl, the Owl even follows them whilst they walk the dogs, now I want an Owl. We live in a Barn, so it would feel right at home...

Click here for a couple of pics....

Is it me or do all threads about dogs on this forum end up being about cats?

Is there some Naim / feline synergy going on?

I think we should be told.

Alex,

If you want a Jack Russell puppy (very cute) I know someone who wants to give one a good home.

-- woody

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Originally posted by rodwsmith:
Is it me or do all threads about dogs on this forum end up being about cats?

Is there some Naim / feline synergy going on?

I think we should be told.

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I'd like an answer to this question as well! The only thing that puts me off Ariva loudspeakers is the grilles and the lowest driver being near enough to the floor for our cats to use as a $4000 claw-sharpening post ! (Perish the thought.)

If there is a Naim/feline synergy then tell me about it.

Deane

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If there is a Naim/feline synergy then tell me about it.

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Could it be that they appreciate a purrrfect sound and like to chill on the sofa?