Please Scroll Down to See Forums Below
napsgear
genezapharmateuticals
domestic-supply
puritysourcelabs
UGL OZ
UGFREAK
napsgeargenezapharmateuticals domestic-supplypuritysourcelabsUGL OZUGFREAK

Seriously considering getting a dog

KillahBee

KillahBee

New member
I've fought the temptation for a while now, but it's creeping on me. Most of my friends have dogs and I haven't been around one on a daily basis since my family's last pup many moons ago.

I work from home, so have plenty of time to manage it throughout the day and it would be nice to have a sidekick with me here in the office. I have a pretty good size fenced-in backyard.

My two biggest challenges = I travel a decent amount and I'm kind of a clean freak. More concerned about the latter though. Can't be getting dog hair all on my leather couches and shit.

I don't know why I made this thread or what I expect from it. :worried:
 
KillahBee said:
My two biggest challenges = I travel a decent amount and I'm kind of a clean freak. More concerned about the latter though. Can't be getting dog hair all on my leather couches and shit.

I don't know why I made this thread or what I expect from it. :worried:
Click to expand...
You want input :whatever:

The travel isn't the most complicated part, there are plenty of pet sitters and/or kennels out there, of course, that costs money, as does the vet. You have to get the darned thing inoculated and prevent flea and heartworms (especially if you're going to have to kennel it periodically or if you expect it to be around other dogs). But that's just $$$ stuff.

If you're pretty meticulous about cleanliness sooner or later the dog is going to do something you really, really get pissed over. With patience and perseverance it's possible to teach a dog to stay off furniture, but leather furniture scratches in the meantime, as do hardwood floors. The simple fact is, vomiting, piss and shit accidents are virtually unavoidable and no matter how much you vacuum you're going to end up with some dog hair on your clothes and if you decide to get a younger dog you're going to need to anticipate chewing incidents.

Yes, you can crate the dog and limit it's house access but IMO that's only for short term training purposes. Dogs are social animals, they NEED company, it's in their DNA.

I'd say if you're really on the fence, try offering to watch a friend's dog while they go on vacation. It's a non committal way to take it for a test drive, so to speak. Dogs are even more like children than cats. They're a hassle and extra responsibility and they make messes, only they'll never outgrow any of it.
 
musclemom said:
You want input :whatever:

The travel isn't the most complicated part, there are plenty of pet sitters and/or kennels out there, of course, that costs money, as does the vet. You have to get the darned thing inoculated and prevent flea and heartworms (especially if you're going to have to kennel it periodically or if you expect it to be around other dogs). But that's just $$$ stuff.

If you're pretty meticulous about cleanliness sooner or later the dog is going to do something you really, really get pissed over. With patience and perseverance it's possible to teach a dog to stay off furniture, but leather furniture scratches in the meantime, as do hardwood floors. The simple fact is, vomiting, piss and shit accidents are virtually unavoidable and no matter how much you vacuum you're going to end up with some dog hair on your clothes and if you decide to get a younger dog you're going to need to anticipate chewing incidents.

Yes, you can crate the dog and limit it's house access but IMO that's only for short term training purposes. Dogs are social animals, they NEED company, it's in their DNA.

I'd say if you're really on the fence, try offering to watch a friend's dog while they go on vacation. It's a non committal way to take it for a test drive, so to speak. Dogs are even more like children than cats. They're a hassle and extra responsibility and they make messes, only they'll never outgrow any of it.
Click to expand...

I love you, bro. :)
 
I agree with everything MM said.

If you must get a dog, I would suggest an older, trained, and less rambunctious dog who would be content (meaning sleeping) while in a sitter's care. Otherwise I don't think it's a great idea to get a puppy at this particular time in your life.
 
KillahBee said:
I love you, bro. :)
Click to expand...
:lmao:

When my son was little (toddler or so) he was a terror and a half. I had a girlfriend that would specifically come and spend the day with me whenever she'd get the baby bug. She'd actually call me in advance and tell me to plan on running some errands so she could babysit my son :D

Personally, I've always thought that every high school should have a daycare center and 5 days a week in the daycare center be mandatory course work for 9th grade. Nice source of revenue and I bet teen pregnancy rates would plummet.
 
There are a lot of breeds that don't shed, too. If you want a smaller dog, Bichon Frise, Poodle, Maltese - or any mix of these dogs - don't shed. If you want a bigger dog, stick to shorter haired dogs like my AmStaff and Pit....my pit doesn't shed much at all, actually. And leather is good to have with animals......I just wipe down my couches - so much easier to clean than any cloth couches. If you have tile or hardwood floors, owning a dog is much cleaner.....if you have carpet, you can count on having to have them cleaned after potty training a pup. Crate training is very effective, and if done properly you can potty train a dog with minimal accidents on the floor. But yes.....it's temporary - your dog is gonna want to be wherever you are, I'm sure. Dogs are awesome......if you get the right dog, you have yourself a best friend for a long, long time!
 
musclemom said:
:lmao:

When my son was little (toddler or so) he was a terror and a half. I had a girlfriend that would specifically come and spend the day with me whenever she'd get the baby bug. She'd actually call me in advance and tell me to plan on running some errands so she could babysit my son :D

Personally, I've always thought that every high school should have a daycare center and 5 days a week in the daycare center be mandatory course work for 9th grade. Nice source of revenue and I bet teen pregnancy rates would plummet.
Click to expand...

This is an awesome idea!!
 
A dog is like raising a child, you have to give it a very significant amount of quality time, are you ready for that? If you travel a lot, do you have someone else who can walk the animal several times a day?
 
babysit my dog for a month and let me know if you still want a dog

shes in the utterly obnoxious 'adolescent" stage
 
It's definitely a lot of work and a long commitment. That said it's very rewarding at the same time.. only you know if you want a creature dependent on you for 10+ years. I love my dog, but I probably won't get another one until I'm older.
 
Get a female boston terrier
Males tend to hump everything and piss on ALOT of things in houses
short hair
smart
barely sheds
tough little fuckers

plus they love the PB kak
 
yorkies, super gaye, but fuggin awesome dogs, loyal and easy to train.
active lil sonbitches too
 
my neighbors have a pom that actually a pretty awesome little mutt
 
ortiz34 said:
Get a female boston terrier
Males tend to hump everything and piss on ALOT of things in houses
short hair
smart
barely sheds
tough little fuckers

plus they love the PB kak
Click to expand...

Or if you want to at least appear to be heterosexual you could get just about any other dog.
 
Get a shepherd...they're smarter than most EF posters and just as easy to train. However, they need to be exercised regularly...they're working dogs.
 
javaguru said:
Get a shepherd...they're smarter than most EF posters and just as easy to train. However, they need to be exercised regularly...they're working dogs.
Click to expand...

Same goes for dobies, only they don't tend to have the hip problems and shed all over the goddamn place. Both are great dogs. Smart, loyal as hell, and learn to read you as well as you read them.

I was able to just clear my throat and give Hannibal a look with one eyebrow raised and he'd get me. Half the time the fag was fucking with me and would smile as he humored me by sitting down like he never did anything.
 
A cat might suit your immediate needs better, since they can be left alone for days as long as they have food and water. They shit and piss in a box, and you don't have to train them, they come from the factory knowing how to be a cat. You can't take it for walks or use it as a travel companion, they're territorial and tend to run away when you take them outside their home range. But a cat will make a house seem more like a home.
 
Mr. dB said:
A cat might suit your immediate needs better, since they can be left alone for days as long as they have food and water. They shit and piss in a box, and you don't have to train them, they come from the factory knowing how to be a cat. You can't take it for walks or use it as a travel companion, they're territorial and tend to run away when you take them outside their home range. But a cat will make a house seem more like a home.
Click to expand...

The only problem is that it's a fucking cat and that will make you an antisocial shutin that thinks the equivalent of a tilapia is something acceptable. (FYI... Tilapia clean up after valuable fish. They're garbage. Cats clean up vermin for the real animals. They're garbage.)

When's the last time you heard someone refer to themself as an alpha cat? "Can you be a leader?"

"No, but I can stalk something insignificant by today's standards and can be pretty antisocial around anything that's not my master. Do I have the job?"

"Uh... We'll get back to you."
 
javaguru said:
Get a shepherd...they're smarter than most EF posters and just as easy to train. However, they need to be exercised regularly...they're working dogs.
Click to expand...

I got a German Shepherd last month, and he is just the best dog in the world. Yes he sheds like crazy though, but whatever- thats what vacuums are for.
Regardless of what kind of dog you get, it will always reflect the effort you put into its exercise, training, and discipline. It's a lot of work, but well worth it. Don't get a dog unless you want to invest lots of time into its well-being.
A fenced in backyard is nice, but no substitute for at least two long walks a day. Plus training time and play time.
Even if it's a tiny dog, it still needs to walk around with you to satisfy that roaming instinct.
 
jnevin said:
The only problem is that it's a fucking cat and that will make you an antisocial shutin that thinks the equivalent of a tilapia is something acceptable. (FYI... Tilapia clean up after valuable fish. They're garbage. Cats clean up vermin for the real animals. They're garbage.)

When's the last time you heard someone refer to themself as an alpha cat? "Can you be a leader?"

"No, but I can stalk something insignificant by today's standards and can be pretty antisocial around anything that's not my master. Do I have the job?"

"Uh... We'll get back to you."
Click to expand...

lmao!!!!!!!!!!!!
 
Get a dog that only sheds a little I could see you with an Italian Greyhound they have lots of energy not huge but also not a tiny gay dog either.

I been feeling the same way as you about getting a dog but I moved to a place last year that I am not aloud pets. I did that on purpose so if I wanted to get a dog I would have to move.
 
jnevin said:
Same goes for dobies, only they don't tend to have the hip problems and shed all over the goddamn place. Both are great dogs. Smart, loyal as hell, and learn to read you as well as you read them.
Click to expand...

Well bred Dobermans are just awesome dogs. Gentle, good natured, easily trainable, and smart as a whip. Excellent point about the lack of shedding. That's a huge plus. The miniatures are even better choices for a dog that will live indoors.
 
jnevin said:
The only problem is that it's a fucking cat and that will make you an antisocial shutin that thinks the equivalent of a tilapia is something acceptable. (FYI... Tilapia clean up after valuable fish. They're garbage. Cats clean up vermin for the real animals. They're garbage.)

When's the last time you heard someone refer to themself as an alpha cat? "Can you be a leader?"

"No, but I can stalk something insignificant by today's standards and can be pretty antisocial around anything that's not my master. Do I have the job?"

"Uh... We'll get back to you."
Click to expand...

You suck.

The only difference between a cat and a tiger is the size. They take down prey that is appropriate for a 12 pound predator. And they kept our grain stores free of pests, which is why the Egyptians worshiped them as gods. If cats hadn't been persecuted by Europeans in the Dark Ages then The Plague, which was spread by rats, wouldn't have been such a problem.

I'm not trying to proselytize for cats over dogs here, that's not my point. I was merely suggesting that if KB doesn't have the time to raise a dog, which isn't much different from the time it takes to raise a child, then a cat may be a more practical choice if he wants a warm furry friend.

ps: Dogs eat cat shit, but cats don't eat dog shit.
 
cw801 said:
There are a lot of breeds that don't shed, too. If you want a smaller dog, Bichon Frise, Poodle, Maltese - or any mix of these dogs - don't shed. If you want a bigger dog, stick to shorter haired dogs like my AmStaff and Pit....my pit doesn't shed much at all, actually. And leather is good to have with animals......I just wipe down my couches - so much easier to clean than any cloth couches. If you have tile or hardwood floors, owning a dog is much cleaner.....if you have carpet, you can count on having to have them cleaned after potty training a pup. Crate training is very effective, and if done properly you can potty train a dog with minimal accidents on the floor. But yes.....it's temporary - your dog is gonna want to be wherever you are, I'm sure. Dogs are awesome......if you get the right dog, you have yourself a best friend for a long, long time!
Click to expand...

Schnauzers also don't shed, and are one of 7 or so hypo-allergenic breeds.
 
Mr. dB said:
You suck.

The only difference between a cat and a tiger is the size. They take down prey that is appropriate for a 12 pound predator. And they kept our grain stores free of pests, which is why the Egyptians worshiped them as gods. If cats hadn't been persecuted by Europeans in the Dark Ages then The Plague, which was spread by rats, wouldn't have been such a problem.

I'm not trying to proselytize for cats over dogs here, that's not my point. I was merely suggesting that if KB doesn't have the time to raise a dog, which isn't much different from the time it takes to raise a child, then a cat may be a more practical choice if he wants a warm furry friend.

ps: Dogs eat cat shit, but cats don't eat dog shit.
Click to expand...

If i weren't allergic, i would def get a cat. They look so cute!
 
Here's another option if you're on the fence:

Lots of shelters need foster parents for dogs who are adoptable but don't have a home yet. That way you have a dog for a month or two and have to take care of it, but don't have to commit fully (unless you love the dog and then just adopt it). We did this with our second one we adopted in August because we knew he had some issues but once he was in a good home and trained he is amazing.

And if you're going to get one, please don't do it from a breeder. There are TONS of good dogs who need homes at rescue shelters all over the place.
 
trex74 said:
If i weren't allergic, i would def get a cat. They look so cute!
Click to expand...

bigglesworth0.jpg
 
Get a pit pup......this is my BFF and snuggle-bunny.......she hardly sheds and she's smart as a whip! Super mellow.....

I miss her so much - think I'm going to run home and see her at lunch...... :)

Cambersleep.jpg
 
Aw!!!

cw801 said:
Get a pit pup......this is my BFF and snuggle-bunny.......she hardly sheds and she's smart as a whip! Super mellow.....
Click to expand...
 
She's soooo awesome. My hubby and I were arguing last night, and she was traumatized by it (she's VERY sensitive to how I am feeling)....now we say "shhhhhh.....no fighting in front of the dog!"

Seriously.....great dogs. I will never own another breed.......

cambergirl.jpg
 
trex74 said:
If i weren't allergic, i would def get a cat. They look so cute!
Click to expand...
Yeah, but they actually don't like being treated like they're cute, they prefer to be treated like they are short humans with fur. Accepting cat psychology is kind of like loving, say, your children. You accept them for who they are, not what you wish they were.

See, here's the thing that gets me with "anti-cat" people. Most have NO idea what a normal cat is really like. Most cats have been raised by dog people who don't understand cat psychology. Far too often young cats are treated like they are bratty children who are hard of hearing, which results in a twitchy, neurotic, unpredictable animal.

Cats hate loud noises, rough treatment, sudden movements, being manhandled when they aren't in the mood. Dogs don't give a fuck because it's part of being in a pack, you do what the alpha tells you to do.

And for the smart ass who says "yeah, show me an alpha cat." No problem, it's called the adult male lion in the pride. There is ONLY one species of cat that acts pack-like, and it's the lion and then it's still different from wolves since only females form the cooperative hunting group.

Feral cats provide a valuable service in maintaining rodent populations (which is why there are so many catch/neuter/inoculate/spay programs) whereas feral dogs are a menace.

Look, I've owned many, many types of animals my entire life, probably many more than most people on this board. I've done rescue, adoption, breeding and training of many critters (and their owners) and I can say pretty much categorically, all animals, wild and domesticated, have their place in our world. An unreasonable prejudice against any one species is as ignorant a stance as bigotry against another human because of the color of their skin or nationality of birth.

Now, fleas, ticks and mosquitoes, don't get me started.
 
ponyfitness said:
Here's another option if you're on the fence:

Lots of shelters need foster parents for dogs who are adoptable but don't have a home yet. That way you have a dog for a month or two and have to take care of it, but don't have to commit fully (unless you love the dog and then just adopt it). We did this with our second one we adopted in August because we knew he had some issues but once he was in a good home and trained he is amazing.

And if you're going to get one, please don't do it from a breeder. There are TONS of good dogs who need homes at rescue shelters all over the place.
Click to expand...
This is a very smart idea and will let you have a feel for the responsibilities.

If you really decide to buy a dog take some things into consideration:

Neighbors: if you're house is too close to theirs, if they are touchy or if they have a dog of their own than a small/yappy breed (which are MOST but not all toys) may not be a good idea

Weather: if you will have the dog mostly outdoors then you have to get a dog that can stand where you are, pugs, Neapolitan mastiffs, sharpeis, Chows and others do not thrive in the heat and chihuahuas, chinese cresteds and many small breeds do not do well in the cold.

Food: If you are only able to feed them once a day then you will want to stay away from large breeds that are prone to bloat/gastric torsion like great danes, mastiffs, Irish wolfhounds, etc

Energy level: if you wont have much time to walk them then you will want to stay away from active breeds such as border collies, boxers, husky, retrievers, etc you may want to look for a pug, a bulldog or so

Special requirements: some dogs need special care like bulldogs, mastiffs, pugs and french who require cleaning of the wrinkles, other dogs like most toys, chows, afghans, new foundland and others require grooming and combing.

Education: some breeds may be a little bit more difficult to handle if you do not spend time educating them and making sure they understand you are Alpha, certain breeds such as pits, amstaffs, husky, sharpei, akita, chows require discipline. Others are just not very bright and need additional training and more repetitions to understand commands afghans, bulldogs, pugs and others are not the sharpest tool in the shed

Puppy temperament: once you decide on a breed and you go see litters PLEASE do not go for the cute one, the one biting everything or the active one, instead try applying a temperament test to see which has the best qualities.

Children: This one is important since some breeds may harm children, not because they are aggressive but unintentionally, so if you have toddlers around constantly then dogs like danes and mastiffs may whip them in the face or get over excited and push them.

Useful links:
Animal Planet :: Guides :: Dog Breed Selector
INTELLIGENCE OF DOGS - The ranking by breed
Volhard Puppy Aptitude Test
 
KillahBee said:
good call by ponyfitness. i was not aware of this rent-a-dog option.
Click to expand...
The main reason I didn't bother mentioning walking dogs for a shelter is because any decent shelter is going to require you to go through a training program and prove you're not a wingnut (i.e., not going to mess the dogs up more than they already are) and that you're willing to make a commitment to being a volunteer before you get to walk the dogs.

Your friends, on the other hand, don't give a shit and will be happy to get a free doggie babysitter.
 
musclemom said:
The main reason I didn't bother mentioning walking dogs for a shelter is because any decent shelter is going to require you to go through a training program and prove you're not a wingnut (i.e., not going to mess the dogs up more than they already are) and that you're willing to make a commitment to being a volunteer before you get to walk the dogs.

Your friends, on the other hand, don't give a shit and will be happy to get a free doggie babysitter.
Click to expand...


all my friends have really, really gay dogs that I want nothing to do with.
 
KillahBee said:
all my friends have really, really gay dogs that I want nothing to do with.
Click to expand...
Ah, well, KB, that is the risk one runs with a dog, you really have no say as to what degree of geighness it will be prone to once it's grown :whatever:
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

Richardbrown
Napsgear: 12 REASONS PEOPLE FAIL AT FITNESS
Replies
16
Views
4K
Tazz
Tazz
javaguru
The Riddle of the Gun
Replies
19
Views
4K
wootoom
wootoom
hanselthecaretaker
Interesting piece: How to prevent the "End of America"
Replies
6
Views
2K
-SD-
-SD-
javaguru
War, Peace and the State
Replies
7
Views
3K
javaguru
javaguru
hanselthecaretaker
Economic shift and the people struggling with it
Replies
17
Views
3K
redshirt27se
redshirt27se
Top Bottom