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Well, I'm new to Yorkietalk and don't really have a great deal ofexperience with the whole forum, message board world. I've been lurking for abit reading up on different topics like health issues and carrying bags etc.and thought it was about time I said hi.

I have had lots of different breeds of dogs over the years, some that havebeen rescued and re-homed and some that have been longtime members of our family.English Cocker Spaniel, Bearded Collie (re-homed), Sheltie (re-homed), GreaterSwiss Mountain Dog, Miniature Schnauzer, Giant Schnauzer all re-homed or passedon now. We currently have a 90 lb male Greyhound/Deerhound or"Longdog" named Kai (3yrs old), 10 lb female Chihuahua/BrusselsGriffon named Zoe (3 yrs old) & 3.3 lb female Yorkie/Maltese named Lulu orLu (1.5 yrs old but only recently part of our family).

I have noticed that there are quite varied opinions and some members hereare rather vocal about their opinions on certain matters so I am not cominghere completely naive.

Hmmm a little bit about myself..... We have had lots of different breeds ofdogs over the years and everything from purebred dogs from National Championsto working lines with backgrounds in border patrol or hunting to cross breedsconsidered mutts by some. With regard to Lu, my Yorkie cross, I think that dogsare dogs no matter what size they are and Lu is no exception. We live on a farmwith horses etc. and while Lu is quite small she still goes to the bathroomoutside and goes on walks and plays in the grass, we are just very vigilant soshe can remain safe. While I certainly understand that health issues can makeit necessary to keep a dog indoors I disagree with completely babying a dog andnot allowing it to be ......... well..... a dog. I believe that just like raising kids, dogsdevelop and grow emotionally and physically when allowed to do so. Since Lu is so small I of course tailor herexperiences to suit her small size. I donot do everything for her so that all she has to do is look cute at me and crya little bit. If her toy goes behind something that shethinks is scary like a box that is too close to the wall, I move the box awayfrom the wall a bit and let her work up her courage and go behind the box toget her toy and then praise like crazy her success. I also take Lu out into public quite a bitbecause she is very social and it’s good for her and I also want people to seethat tiny dogs can be well mannered and be dogs and not just indoors on apillow and protected from the big bad world. Now don't misunderstand, Lu is plenty spoiled and I love her to pieces, I just want her to be as emotionally healthy and best Lu she can be.

Since I live rurally and inan area with extreme weather I am concerned about making sure Lu is happy andsafe when it is summer and too hot for her or winter and far too cold for herto be in the car alone if I have to run errands. I have been looking at stealth carrying bagsfor her. While I do not condone “sneaking”dogs into places they are not welcome like restaurants or grocery stores etc. Ialso realize there may be times when bringing Lu into some places for a minuteor two may be necessary and rather than cause controversy hiding her may be inher best interest. Most of the time Isimply adjust my plans depending upon the situation whether it may be too warmor cold or I don’t have someone to watch her. Living rurally and having to travel totown, making another trip may not always be possible and sometimes unexpected thingscome up. I’m realistic enough to realisethere could be a time when I might need to “sneak” Lu in and out of some placeto quickly do business. Not something Iplan to make a habit nor have I found a need to do this to this point but I’mnot going to say it couldn’t happen. (Luhasn’t spent so much as a second in a car in poor weather but has spent ½ hr orso, weather permitting, when errands and policies have not made it possible forher to be with me.) I think there may alsobe times when Lu may be welcome but I don’t necessarily want to advertise toothers that she is with me so she and I can be undisturbed. Lu is great with people and doesn’t mind but shedoes tend to attract quite a bit of attention and sometimes it just isn’tnecessary for everyone to know she is around and so I would like to find a nicestealth carrier for those occasions. Ihave read that quite a few here like the Kwigy- Bo Alex and Alexa and I came acrosssomeone here who really likes the Paws Unleashed Studded Bowler pet carrierlike from here http://www.petfavors.com/pu-studded-bowler-pet-carrier.html but I wondered about the mesh on the top ofthe Bowler pet carrier and if it might be better to go with the Alex or Alexa? I have also looked at this carrier http://www.jaraden.com/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=vmj_so fty.tpl&product_id=38&category_id=9&option=com_vir tuemart&Itemid=159but I have wondered if the white interior would put more attention on what isinside? Or maybe this one in brown http://uptownpoochie.com/cb-safari-dog-carrier.htmlbut I wondered about the mesh on the ends? I want something fashionable butnot too in your face if you know what I mean and I’m not probably going to haveseveral carriers and so I want to make the best choice I can the first timearound. All thoughts about that are welcome. Sorry for being so incredibly longwinded....