Thinkin of gettin a dog...

[Will]

I don't have a dog. But I have chickens. Those are dam good pets. They are stupid, but always do the thing you predict they will do. And they are hard, hard workers. You never see a chicken sleeping. They eat bugs like crazy--scratch, scratch, peck--scratch, scratch, peck--scratch, scratch, peck. Alll day long. And they come running when you get home just like a dog. ANd they like to be picked up and petted. You don't have to shovel up the lawn behind them--they fertilize as they go. They are hilarious to observe. And they lay eggs--about 4 a week each. And do it for free if you let them run around outside and eat bugs and don't need much feed. And best of all, when you get hungry--chop off the heads and order some new chicks. Truly, Man's Best Friend. A dog won't do that for you.

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

Irish Setters can be good dogs, but it's tough getting them through the first year, lots of people will get rid of them cuz they start chewing on everything, but once you break them of the habit, you have a pretty good dog. We've had four of them.

Yea, that's me... he was my protector when I played in the sandbox in the yard. NOTHING could get in the yard when I was out there.... well... he'd usually give whatever was invading HIS yard just enough room that they couldn't escape in time, lol.


German Shepherds can be good dogs too. Ours was very loyal and loveable. Very smart too, saw him get out of regular collars, choke collars, and even a harness. He was also able to figure out how to get out of his electric fence, open the garage door, and a whole collection of other things. And he was quite protective of his family. A guy that had been fired by my dad stopped one day and got in dad's face about it... if the dog could have got outside he woulda tore the guy apart. Ours made it past 13 years old before he had a stroke.

 

[cocoasranger]

Shelter dogs are definitely the way to go for a number of reasons. My present shelter dog is a Shetland sheepdog which sheds a lot and needs a lot of grooming, exercise, and attention. I would not recommend this breed unless you are home a lot and have lots of time to devote to it.

My first shelter dog was a black Labrador- Australian cattle dog mix which looks just like a lab, but is about half the size. This is an excellent dog to consider as they are low maintenance and both smart and laid back.

 

[KPac]

check out your local spca and get you a mutt!

best $$ ever spent!

X2 Only way to go.

 

[MusicManiac]

Don't really have any good pictures of him, but here is Sarge. He is an American Bulldog/Boxer mix.

One of the friendliest, most loyal dogs I have ever owned. He does not bark unless he, his yard, or his family is threatened. He is about half energy and half tongue. Haha!

We found him in the paper. The family he was with was going to take him to the Humane Society at the end of the week if they couldn't find a family to give him to as they were being foreclosed on and moving to an apartment with a 50lb limit on dogs.

 

[chico4554]

we may be getting a female shepherd on friday. Its about a year old and the family she is with has some health problems so they can no longer spend much time with her.

 

[mn_smokeater]

IMO I would get a german shepard. but thats my 2 cents and also i fully support getting a shelter dog or a mutt as well.

 

[joldtown]

Shelter dog first, Miniature pinscher next. Great dog, 15lbs of bite yo' a$$

 

[aogden001]

I'm rather partial to Aussie sheppards. I'm on my 3rd now. "BooBoo the wonder dog" has got to be the smartest dog I've ever seen. Maybe 50 pounds. Just enough size & attitude to convince people to leave my house & truck alone. I've had German Sheppards, Dobermans, & a Rottweiler in the past, but BooBoo is the best.

 

[rusty ol ranger]

My old dog i got from the shelter, as i did my Jack russel mix. I had my old dog (black lab/beagle mix) put down 2 days before christimas last year, he was 16 years old! He had a seizure and it pretty much did him in. He was an awesome dog.

I was thinking shelter to....but ive been partial to bassets ever since my dad had one when i was young.

BUt i dont know...i might get another shelter dog.

later,
Dustin

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

My old dog i got from the shelter, as i did my Jack russel mix. I had my old dog (black lab/beagle mix) put down 2 days before christimas last year, he was 16 years old! He had a seizure and it pretty much did him in. He was an awesome dog.

I was thinking shelter to....but ive been partial to bassets ever since my dad had one when i was young.

BUt i dont know...i might get another shelter dog.

later,
Dustin

If you want a certain breed, most shelters will let you put your name on a list and they can give you a call when they get one in. My grandparents did that to get their Samoyd (sp?)

 

[shadetree]

Shelter dog first, Miniature pinscher next. Great dog, 15lbs of bite yo' a$$

I had a Mini-pin. Murphy was his name. I raised him from a puppy,and had him for six years. He was my best pal. One day he was, simply, gone. I think someone took him as he would go thru the woods to play with a gal pal. I could never break him from this as this breed is a hard headed bunch of little bastards. He would mind when it was to his convenience, but if he really wanted to do something, he did it.

He also had separation anxiety, chewed up a lot of the house when left here alone. The wife went to the store one day, and left the front door open. We have a storm door outside the main door, and you can see the outside. Murph never chewed up anything again. He would lay in front of the door until we returned. As long as he could see outside, he was ok.

And yes, the pure breeds seem to all have some kind of inherited health problems where a yard dog mutt is like the Everready bunny.shady

 

[dburton07]

Few weeks ago I went to Petco with the lady to get a couple things for her ferret. Well there were people there from a boxer rescue shelter and they had 10 3 month old boxer/lab pups for $300 a pup. The mother was there too and she was beautiful. Needless to say it was real hard to keep the debit card in the wallet. Cute little bastards.

 

[sPOTO]

Do research. Not all breeds are for everyone. Try this.
Dog breed selector
Or go adopt a mutt. They are usually just awesome.

 

[99RangerKrazy]

All of this talk about dogs is making me want to go get another one. Right now I have a Chesapeake Bay Retriever, named Brandy. She's my bird hunting dog, 12 years old and about 110 pounds (she's a tubby from bad hunting weather the past few years, not much movement haha). But an awesome dog.