Talk me off the ledge

A. Nonymous said:
I kind of feel sorry for this particular guy. He was apparently brought in as a stray. Someone adopted him and kept him for all of 4 days. Then they thought he was too big and brought him back. I need to finish fencing off my yard first I'm afraid. I have about an 8 foot section that's unfenced.
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Speak to the ppl at the shelter and see if they will at least not put him to sleep before you can get him if no one else does.

AFA the reccomendation of a lab... That would be a good choice if you are willing to put in the amt of time and effort into its excecise. They get bored easily and need a "job". With being out of the house 9 hours a day, and adult dog, and a less energetic breed would probably suit you more. The last thing you want is to get turned off to dogs because of shenanigans that could have been prevented if you had the proper match to your lifestyle.
 
Blueiz said:
Speak to the ppl at the shelter and see if they will at least not put him to sleep before you can get him if no one else does.

AFA the reccomendation of a lab... That would be a good choice if you are willing to put in the amt of time and effort into its excecise. They get bored easily and need a "job". With being out of the house 9 hours a day, and adult dog, and a less energetic breed would probably suit you more. The last thing you want is to get turned off to dogs because of shenanigans that could have been prevented if you had the proper match to your lifestyle.
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That was one of the mistakes I made with my last dog. He was a very high energy breed and I didn't realize it at the time. I was working 50-60 hours a week in a very, very high stress job which left me extremely stressed and worn out at the end of the day. Plus, I'm more of a couch potato by nature so the last thing I wanted to do was deal with a high energy dog who wanted to go, go, go. It definitely created some behavioral problems in the dog for sure.

I'm figuring a basset is laid back. I'm laid back. A basset's idea of exercise is a good walk around the neighbor hood 4-5 times a week or more which works for me too. If the dog is good with kids and I can provide him a warm area in the winter a cool area in the summer, I think I can have a good companion to exercise with and also chill with me in the house ever once in a while.
 
I managed an animal hospital for 13yrs. I would say that there is no bad dog because it is really up to the owner to educate themselves about the breed they are looking into. I believe in obedient training any dog that comes into a household, it does not matter if it is a tiny tea cup size dog or a Great Dane. It is up to the owner to take responsibility for the dog’s actions, much like having a 2yr old that never grows up. I had a Great Dane that lived until he was 11yrs old and my English Bulldog is 10 now & they both have given me great joy. If you are having second thoughts, maybe you should really ask yourself if you really have the time and dedication to put into raising a dog. I have seen too many puppies euthanized because the owner thought the puppy would train themselves. I think dogs are great companions & will give you unconditional love. I hope you if decide to get a dog, it will give you many many happy years of joy & love
 
A. Nonymous said:
I could dig out my entire backyard and turn it into a shark tank. Perhaps I should give some thought to this. I could feed it neighborhood children who stray into my yard or possibly the neighbors chihuahua who is constantly growling at me and and has tried to bite me a time or two. (Fortunately for me, it's a chihuahua and can't even get it's teeth into my shoe leather.)
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You could always get the basset some water wings, a suit of chainmail and teach him to swim; Then you could do both :idea:



































:D
 
We just adoped a third dog, so my feelings are pretty clear :D There are a lot of things you can do to make owning a dog a lot less work on yourself, leaving more time to just enjoy the company. Like you said, fencing in the yard is a big one, either with invisible fence or a physical one (we have both). We also have a dog door into the house, so whether we are home or not, the dogs have full access to the yard all day, or to get inside. I'd look into doing the same thing into the garage if you don't want the dog in the house while you're not home. Keeping food, water, and a doghouse or bed in the garage will go a long way toward keeping the dog happy when you're not around. IMO there are so many dog breeds, if you want a dog then you shouldn't have too much trouble finding a breed that will fit in with your situation, you just have to do the research.
 
If you should decide to get a dog, understand that it could be a 10 to 15 year commitment. Which not only includes food, water, a place warm and dry in the winter, and cool in the summer. It also includes time. Dogs are pack animals. Being so they desire to be with their "pack" and they consider you to be a part of that. If they do not have time quite a bit of time with you they tend to be destructive in our eyes, but in theirs, they are merely gaining your attention. Like children, they don't care wether it is good attention or bad. Taking the time to teach your dog obedience tells them you are the "lead" dog and they are subordinate. If you do not spend time with or train your dog simple obedience, you will be in for a long haul as they will attempt to become the lead dog. I have owned and bred labs and beagles. Both of which are considered "high strung". All of my dogs are trained. They eat, sleep, and live in the house. I have never had a problem with any of them.
 
Its been mentioned already but I just want to echo it, make sure you do some research into the dog, its temperament, and its energy levels. It is so important to pick a dog that works for your lifestyle. I have a friend who has 4 Huskys and does some work for the local Husky rescue. People adopt them because they are beautiful but they are highly intelligent and energetic and if they get bored they become very destructive so people give them up after a couple months. The way he keeps his entertained and exercised is he mushes them everyday. He even has a sled with wheels for when there is no snow.

My uncle has kept basset hounds for years and he takes them hunting with him. However, they, like many dogs, can be quite the barker if they are bored or don't get enough exercise.

I have to put my 2 cents in about Golden Retrievers. They are the only dogs my family has ever kept and they are great. My parents have 2 right now and they are the sweetest dogs. When I do decide to adopt a dog, I honestly don't think I would ever less then 2 dogs. Comparing having one with having two, the two do much better. They have each other to play with and keep company when we aren't there.
 
IF YOU GET A PUPPY THEY GET BORED EASY THEY LIKE TO CHEW ON THINGS AND SOME DOGS ARE DIGGERS A DOG THAT DIGS CAN KEEP YOUR YARD TORE UP JUST SOME THING ELSE TO CONSIDER
 
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At my current job I have a significant ammount of time more than I had at the old place. If I was still working the hours I used to work I wouldn't even consider. I'm a laid back guy and somewhat of a couch potato. I don't mind a long walk in the evening after work, but I want to be able to crash and burn on the couch afterwards and not have a dog that's constantly dropping tennis balls in my lap. My garage is oversized so I have room to add a dog pen in doors with food, water, and a bed in there. The dog would be welcome in the house as long as I'm at home. I don't mind doing some training with the dog, but I don't have the time or the energy to spend 4-5 hours in the evening trying to train a dog.
 
i would think your best breed would be a Great Pyrenees

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i have 5 of them and they are low maintenance and low keyed
they love to snuggle and like walking, love going in the car and have to ride shotgun
but act more like cats, they don't demand attention and if your not there they are fine love outside and NEED fencing as they tend to roam,
males drool a bit , but my 2 females don't at all , my 3 males drool only in hot temps ,or when barking at u.p.s. man lol

but are protective in that they bark to ward off intruders so if your in town perhaps not then,

they are very prone to guarding but seldom bite unless to save your life,..

they are self thinkers and most times are smarter than you,..or at least they thinks so,..
they really are wonderful creatures, always worrying about you,.. they just shed their inner coat all at once so brushing is just a week long job,. then after that, its just a few hairs that fall like our own..

edit: there are many at the rescues that need homes, that why i have so many
they are a little uneasy at first, if they have been abused as they don't forget what has happened to them (free thinkers) just like us,..
 
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