Went Dog "Shopping" Today

[valley ranch]

Did you get that dog? A good dog is always a good idea. Sound like you want one and the whole family will enjoy it.

 

[so lucky]

There were a couple days when I was not available to check on her, so I went back today, and she was still there, but the release date had been moved to the 25th. Apparently the owner claimed her but did not want to pay the fine. I don't know for sure. She has been spayed, is heart worm negative, and vet says she checks out fine. The guy working at the shelter today didn't know about training or house breaking, but doesn't think she has been trained. He said she is a fence climber.
She is even cuter than I remember. I can see now that she appears to be a cocker/pug mix. Very sweet face.
Tomorrow, I plan to take my 7 and 8 year old grand daughters with me, take the dog for a walk and see if she is kid friendly. They are the family that has the huge Dalmatian mix. This new little one seems a little timid, but the dogs on either side and across the aisle from her are huge and loud. I would be timid, too.
I do realize that my DH may refuse to take any responsibility for her, and of course I would be willing to do it if he doesn't. Just hoping he will. I think he needs some responsibility.

Is it more difficult to housebreak an adult dog than a puppy? Our floors are old, so no big issue there.
I'm kind of anxious about this. I don't defy him very often.
Not that he would ever respond aggressively...Just roll his eyes and sigh....

 

[so lucky]

Hi Lucky, If I may I'd like to tell of something, not unlike this: A good friend asked me to bring a dog over for his wife, who wasn't having fun any more, didn't want to go any where, didn't want to see friends she had for years.
Well, Marie did not want a dog her sister offered her one and she had refused. He nagged me about it, do this for her, get her a dog.

They had me over for dinner and I asked: "Marie I wana get a pet will you help me, I'm going there tomorrow".

She wasn't much help until she saw this Lab, "This look like a good one for you, short hair, won't get all over, has a happy face".
So I bailed the dog out. I couple days later I had to go to LA and asked could I leave her here for a couple days.
Marie told me later." She likes this soup,I pour it on her food." I had to go to Carson City marie watched her till I came back.
I did this so many times, Marie liked me coming to dinner, I was a bachelor, and she could give me advice.
Time passed, when at dinner I told Karl, I may give the lab to these people, they're were kind of hippy mippy don't know how they would treat her in the long run. Marie said: "No you don't, leave her here we'll find a home for her."
Nether Karl nor dared tell her what we had done, Marie and Dalia were inseparable for over 12years.

Marie was the best cook, made a chocolate sauce for elk, may not sound good, it was wonderful.
I took girl friends over there, didn't like any of them till she met Nicole, who is now wifey. That was over 20 years ago.









Richard
Please excuse this long post, I'll shorten it.

Great story, Richard. Thanks. That's kind of what I am dealing with. DH misses the cat we were baby sitting. I thought about getting a cat, but I think a dog is more likely to express love and pleasure just being with him.

 

[so lucky]

@so lucky , I thought of something else too...maybe try Craigslist and look under "free" for people re-homing their dogs. I see so many nowadays being given up because the owner can't keep them, perhaps lost their job or has to move. I know if I were in that position, I would try to find my pet a home myself before turning them over to the pound where their chances are not so good. At least you would know a little more of their background that way and less likely they'd be ill.

@valley ranch , lovely story. Sounds like she knew a good dog & good person when she saw one.

Journey, I have checked Craig's list and the free papers here. Not really anything to speak of. Dogs for sale is all.

 

[Nyboy]

Dogs can be trained at any age IF you are willing to take the time needed for training. Is someone home during the day? If so that would make house breaking much faster.

 

[so lucky]

Yes, we are home almost all the time (sadly)

 

[Nyboy]

Then you need a dog !!!!!!

 

[so lucky]

So I went back to the Humane Society today with the grand daughters. We took the little dog out to an exercise yard on a leash. The shelter worker wasn't kidding when he said she was a fence climber. She spent a lot of time trying to get out the gap between the gate and the fence. Went back to it again and again. On the bright side, she was fine with the kids, doesn't mind having her ears and tail messed with. She was very squirmy, short attention span except for the fence. No training that I could discern. Did use the grass to do her business in, so that was good. Did I mention she never barked? Was friendly towards the other dogs.

I came away more uncertain that I was when I went there. My biggest worry is the bolting possibility. DH is pretty forgetful; he often doesn't get the door shut properly. Don't know if he will remember quickly enough. We live on a busy highway.

 

[Nyboy]

She might not be like that at home. Some dogs when confined build up high energy, her fence climbing might just had to do with being confined in small strange space. Some dog are escape artist live to wonder away, that might be why she there now. Sad her owners found her but dont want to pay the fees. Is she micro chipped, shelter should know.

 

[thistlebloom]

Is it possible to put up an electric poultry net fence around your front area, or where the area is that she will be outside in? She might try escape from a fence like that once, but the lesson would be well remembered, and would hopefully carry over to a regular fence.