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07-30-2016, 10:50 AM | #1 |
YT 2000 Club Donating Member | I want a dog Just the other day, we were being asked questions about where to get a dog, how much they cost, and lots of other questions. She knew we were breeders but of course was not interested in our large breed. We were happy to oblige. But the thing that kept bothering me, is when I asked what and why a dog now, the answers were I am sure clear to her but not me. This woman btw a lovely lady, thinks her children want a dog, and now as her youngest is nine the time can be right. But she has not settled on a breed. Other than a vague desire to have a smallish dog-not my monsters lol. She wants a companion dog, when queried what is a companion dog she was stymied. Finally said a friend for my kids. Well what wou.ld you like to do with your dog? Blank stare. Just a dog my kids can love. Well I said what is your lifestyle like? Do you camp boat hike? Do you want to take the dog with you? Do you have joggers or cyclists that might want to take the dog along? Also the sticker shot was a bit of a surprise. She was surprised I was not recommending a Yorkie. I said they are yappie and can be hard to housetrain. I am pretty sure she has a model of clean house, despite three kids. I also said if you get a dog that just might be hard to maintain. She hummed... You are concerned with housetraining but that is only the beginning of training for all dogs. Awh she said I see. I have seen you outside training your big ones. I said yes, but what you have likely seen is the competitive. Obedience training. You probably have not seen the very beginning. Your dog needs to know sit come stay leave it drop it and to walk easy on a lead.
__________________ Razzle and Dara. Our clan. RIP Karma Dec 24th 2004-July 14 2013 RIP Zoey Jun9 th 2008-May 12 2012. RIP Magic,Mar 26 2006July 1st 2018 |
Welcome Guest! | |
07-30-2016, 12:49 PM | #2 |
Donating YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Oregon
Posts: 2,721
| I can understand her sentiment but oh you are so correct. It is such a bigger commitment, so much more an experience then that clip on the commercial. It is not a decision that effects your family occasionally, it is an every day, every moment kind of choice to have a dog JOIN your family. That decision dictates how long you stay out, where you go and where you don't go. Having a dog changes everything, it really is like having another child. And a dog for your children to love on is a great idea- but such a singular dimension of the vastness of cleaning, feeding, training- basic maintenance. When I chose Lilah to join my family there were so many reasons she fit my life. She was a very meticulously, well planned addition and she is absolutely mine. She has been a perfect fit and my dream would be to get her a sister yorkie and show her. About a month ago, my family had a sweet little black lab puppy join us- hopefully for the next 8-12 or even 14 years. His name is Sam and Sam had some troubles with his family before he came here- he came to our home earlier than a puppy should after being bottle fed and was able to stay with his brother and his dad luckily to gain some social skills until almost five weeks - and that is its own story, but anyhow- and I am definitely still reeling about this change and wrapping my head around what it means for me, my family and for Lilah. It is so big. Everyone is happy and everyone is working hard and I am proud of them. We had some weeks of shoe bleaching and puppy milk and nighttime puppiness (and this is the small stuff- the whole baby nurturing thing I have down, it is the running, slobbering, energy, I have asthma thing that seems daunting to me) and even an already planned yearly family camping trip with our church where we had an amazing tarp/expen/kennel/baby sling carrier set up and took a puppy who couldn't touch the ground camping The kids have been weed whacking fence lines for the fence we are building to attach to our large chain link kennel that we augmented to serve as a goat barn long ago, watching mandatory training videos, taking a puppy out to potty every thirty minutes and rotating play times. Puppy classes start in four weeks. This is so big, having Sam join our family and is not being taken lightly- ha! Could not be taken lightly. It was really important to my family (turns out my singularly devoted porcelain princess who must be played with very delicately and follows me like a devoted angel was not fulfilling the canine needs of anyone but myself...) it is such a game changer and I wish more people got that.
__________________ Alyssa and Lilah |
07-30-2016, 03:32 PM | #3 |
YT 2000 Club Donating Member | You my dear get it! And truthfully unless you have personally owned a dog before you can't truly get it ! I hope your lab does well in your home, just remember I have heard they stay puppyish for up to three years. Think about prey drive and to exuberant play.
__________________ Razzle and Dara. Our clan. RIP Karma Dec 24th 2004-July 14 2013 RIP Zoey Jun9 th 2008-May 12 2012. RIP Magic,Mar 26 2006July 1st 2018 |
07-30-2016, 03:45 PM | #4 |
YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Mar 2016 Location: stanley nc
Posts: 1,152
| Yes, owning any dog means a total commitment to care, etc. My hubby of 55 years passed way last year just before Thanksgiving. My first Yorkie died at age 14 in 2013. I decided I needed to get another Yorkie for companionship. I got my Gidget the first of March when she was just a few days older than 6 weeks. She's the love of my life and my little snuggle bug. She's asleep in my lap right now. I also knew there were would places I couldn't go but I knew that when I decided to get her. Several ladies at our church went to the mountains for a weekend retreat. I knew about it before I got Gidget but I didn't hesitate to get her. She's my little girl, my sleeping buddy and my emotional support 24/7. I appreciate my ladies at church but they have their own lives and families. My Gidget is my little love bug 24/7. Can't even imagine my day-to-day without her. |
07-30-2016, 04:13 PM | #5 |
Donating YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Oregon
Posts: 2,721
| Thank you Gail, it was a little tough for me. I mean, the bugger is cute don't get me wrong, lol. But yes, a big deal. Mostly a seperate life will ensue for Lilah and Sam- kind of a parallel play lifestyle is my plan at this stage of the game. I appreciate your words of wisdom.
__________________ Alyssa and Lilah |
08-01-2016, 11:25 AM | #6 |
YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Aug 2015 Location: New Yok, NY
Posts: 723
| My life has changed since getting my two. I can't believe it is almost going to be a year. I have modified my lifestyle to accommodate my dogs. It took some getting use to but well worth it. I have learned to balance a social life and being a dog owner. Sometimes I need to say no to going out or have things more pre-planned than being spontaneous. I love my dogs so much it doesn't bother me too much. Just yesterday Boomer was curled up on my chest sleeping while I was watching tv. He looked up at me wanting to be scratched. I looked down at him and was thinking this is the best thing in the world.
__________________ Ashley mom to Thumper and Bella RIP Boomer |
08-01-2016, 11:44 AM | #7 |
YT 2000 Club Donating Member | awh how sweet!! I have two different breeds of dogs. Neither one is more precious to me. My heart catches in so many moments, different moments in time. As I have said in the past, big or small I love them all! I think Yorkies are grand dogs, but not for everyone., for different reasons than my big dogs. I think it takes a very special and dedicated owner to own large and small.
__________________ Razzle and Dara. Our clan. RIP Karma Dec 24th 2004-July 14 2013 RIP Zoey Jun9 th 2008-May 12 2012. RIP Magic,Mar 26 2006July 1st 2018 |
08-01-2016, 12:18 PM | #8 |
YT 2000 Club Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: Lake Geneva, WI
Posts: 2,776
| I wish first timers (getting a dog) would get past the physical dog and consider more a dog's personality and what the dog was bred for...A co-worker recently said he wanted a Border Collie and my face must have said it all, because he literally took a step back from me! He and his girlfriend are getting ready to move into an apartment and neither have canine experience! For heavens sake, so many people just don't think!!! Big frustrated siiighhh... |
08-01-2016, 02:13 PM | #9 |
YT 2000 Club Donating Member | Oh dear. Border collies need a very active home life to be truly happy, gawd knows I couldn't own one. Runners joggers etc, lots and lots of exercise. I know so many folks go on dog looks or their friend has that dog and I like it.
__________________ Razzle and Dara. Our clan. RIP Karma Dec 24th 2004-July 14 2013 RIP Zoey Jun9 th 2008-May 12 2012. RIP Magic,Mar 26 2006July 1st 2018 |
08-01-2016, 05:17 PM | #10 | |
Donating YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Oregon
Posts: 2,721
| Quote:
My father lives less than two miles away with a seasonal pond in his backyard and his black lab (we grew up with labs and retrievers) and we are already working on retrieving- lol, he is a natural! And we are definitely in a position to do some scent training and water retrieves etc. we shall see where it takes us! (Okay, and the agility set comes in the mail tommorow )
__________________ Alyssa and Lilah Last edited by Lilah Charm; 08-01-2016 at 05:21 PM. | |
08-02-2016, 02:26 AM | #11 |
YT 2000 Club Donating Member | Wow that sounds ideal your fathers spot. Now remember the exercise guidelines. No weave polls until growth plates close. Keep the jumps to ankle height, and no fast running on wet grass. I would wait until at least one year old to neuter I know the breed has hip dysplasia but there are likely other disorders. Remember we have that big report on here about genetic issues she's by breed. I posted one and ladyjane posted one. Enjoy your new addition!
__________________ Razzle and Dara. Our clan. RIP Karma Dec 24th 2004-July 14 2013 RIP Zoey Jun9 th 2008-May 12 2012. RIP Magic,Mar 26 2006July 1st 2018 Last edited by gemy; 08-02-2016 at 02:29 AM. |
08-02-2016, 04:51 AM | #12 |
Donating YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Burbs of DC
Posts: 2,198
| That's very interesting and a lot of people don't think about the commitment. I've been going back and forth on the idea of a second but when I calculate the commitment and what's going on in our lives, a second would be hard for us. So even though I get excited about the thought, reality sinks in when I think about exercise, what I want, portability, ease of training, clean house, space, cost and the list goes on.
__________________ Owned by Troy(RIP) & Emma |
08-02-2016, 07:52 AM | #13 |
YT 2000 Club Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: Lake Geneva, WI
Posts: 2,776
| Rachael1983 -- So true, plus (for me anyway) the expense of providing excellent and timely care for an additional canine unit--little or big, is prohibitive ! I have to make choices, which I am very happy to do; for example, when it comes to grooming it's either Piper or me. Yep, let's just say, I am sporting a very "natural" look these days!! |
08-02-2016, 09:49 AM | #14 | |
YT 2000 Club Donating Member | Quote:
__________________ Razzle and Dara. Our clan. RIP Karma Dec 24th 2004-July 14 2013 RIP Zoey Jun9 th 2008-May 12 2012. RIP Magic,Mar 26 2006July 1st 2018 | |
08-02-2016, 11:52 AM | #15 | |
Donating YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Oregon
Posts: 2,721
| Quote:
__________________ Alyssa and Lilah Last edited by Lilah Charm; 08-02-2016 at 11:53 AM. | |
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