puppy intervention

this feels a bit like one of my 1st topic posts - (in)sanity check,
which mused about heading off to the mountains alone (maybe in another
life). the shelter called today to tell me that someone dropped off a
litter of aussie puppies & wondered if i might be interested. i
stopped by & broke into tears at the sight of a pup that looked just
like elsey. played with the male of the group, who looked like a
blonde lab. & tried my best to not get attached to the rest of the
dogs & pups (geez there was one litter of about 10 black lab mix).

i miss my old gal & would like to get another dog at some point. i'm
not sure if that is now or when, i've never had a gap before. is it
absolutely crazy to consider a puppy when i haven't even been healthy
enough to hold down a job? a pup in possible peri? doesn't seem fair
to the dog, actually... logic says one thing, the heart another.

so any thoughts on this?

ellen

ellen wrote:
> this feels a bit like one of my 1st topic posts - (in)sanity check,
> which mused about heading off to the mountains alone (maybe in another
> life). the shelter called today to tell me that someone dropped off a
> litter of aussie puppies & wondered if i might be interested. i
> stopped by & broke into tears at the sight of a pup that looked just
> like elsey. played with the male of the group, who looked like a
> blonde lab. & tried my best to not get attached to the rest of the
> dogs & pups (geez there was one litter of about 10 black lab mix).
>
> i miss my old gal & would like to get another dog at some point. i'm
> not sure if that is now or when, i've never had a gap before. is it
> absolutely crazy to consider a puppy when i haven't even been healthy
> enough to hold down a job? a pup in possible peri? doesn't seem fair
> to the dog, actually... logic says one thing, the heart another.
>
> so any thoughts on this?

You know yourself best, of course, but a puppy is a great
distraction and wonderful therapy. Or maybe an adult dog would
be a better fit for you now, because of the intense training that
puppies require.

When we got our dogs, I was 44, 47 and 49 - four puppies in the
throes of peri (me, not the puppies :-P) ). But I expect that
our next dogs will be adults... until we walk into the shelter,
and then, who knows????

_Logic_ would usually dictate that getting a dog 'now' is
impossible...

FurPaw

--
"Every gun that is made, every warship launched,
every rocket fired, signifies in the final sense
a theft from those who hunger and are not fed,
those who are cold and are not clothed."
- Dwight D. Eisenhower

To reply, unleash the dogs.

On Jan 10, 8:23 pm, FurPaw <furrealpaw...@gmaildog.com> wrote:
> ellen wrote:
> > this feels a bit like one of my 1st topic posts - (in)sanity check,
> > which mused about heading off to the mountains alone (maybe in another
> > life). the shelter called today to tell me that someone dropped off a
> > litter of aussie puppies & wondered if i might be interested. i
> > stopped by & broke into tears at the sight of a pup that looked just
> > like elsey. played with the male of the group, who looked like a
> > blonde lab. & tried my best to not get attached to the rest of the
> > dogs & pups (geez there was one litter of about 10 black lab mix).
>
> > i miss my old gal & would like to get another dog at some point. i'm
> > not sure if that is now or when, i've never had a gap before. is it
> > absolutely crazy to consider a puppy when i haven't even been healthy
> > enough to hold down a job? a pup in possible peri? doesn't seem fair
> > to the dog, actually... logic says one thing, the heart another.
>
> > so any thoughts on this?
>
> You know yourself best, of course, but a puppy is a great
> distraction and wonderful therapy. Or maybe an adult dog would
> be a better fit for you now, because of the intense training that
> puppies require.
>
> When we got our dogs, I was 44, 47 and 49 - four puppies in the
> throes of peri (me, not the puppies :-P) ). But I expect that
> our next dogs will be adults... until we walk into the shelter,
> and then, who knows????
>
> _Logic_ would usually dictate that getting a dog 'now' is
> impossible...
>
> FurPaw
>
> --
> "Every gun that is made, every warship launched,
> every rocket fired, signifies in the final sense
> a theft from those who hunger and are not fed,
> those who are cold and are not clothed."
> - Dwight D. Eisenhower
>
> To reply, unleash the dogs.

all good points. i was just browsing through petfinders looking at
old goldens, one of which only has three legs...

& maybe the next step might be to foster a dog.

even if the time isn't/can't be now, i am wondering about a few other
things as well. like getting a female or male dog. i've only had one
male dog & that was years ago. any considerations in difference? i
guess i tend toward big & calm breeds (which i don't think goldens
qualify for), but i've always had strays so there have been alot of
those ubiquitous shepard mixes in there. my dog before elsey was a
belgian sheepdog/border collie mix.

best available books on general dog selection/training?

ellen

ellen wrote:

> all good points. i was just browsing through petfinders looking at
> old goldens, one of which only has three legs...

which no doubt bothers humans a lot more than it bothers the dog!

> & maybe the next step might be to foster a dog.

That would be one way to find out if you are ready and able - and
you usually can keep the foster if you want to, can't you?

> even if the time isn't/can't be now, i am wondering about a few other
> things as well. like getting a female or male dog. i've only had one
> male dog & that was years ago. any considerations in difference?

I've had a middle-of-the-road male and a timid one. I've had two
spunky, dominant females and an anxious-feisty one. If they're
speutered, there's so much overlap in their behaviors and
personalities, I think that picking the dog that appeals to you
is more important than its gender. If you were getting two dogs,
conventional wisdom recommends one of each gender, since same-sex
dogs are more likely to fight. But same-sex dogs also get along
well, too. Do you prefer squatting or leg-hiking? (Even then...
sometimes males squat, and Dylan sometimes hiked her leg. Maybe
it was because she had a _boy's_ name.)

> i
> guess i tend toward big & calm breeds (which i don't think goldens
> qualify for), but i've always had strays so there have been alot of
> those ubiquitous shepard mixes in there. my dog before elsey was a
> belgian sheepdog/border collie mix.
>
> best available books on general dog selection/training?

I often see "The Right Dog For You" by Daniel Tortora recommended
over at rec.pets.dogs.behavior. We thought it was helpful when
we were deciding on breeds. IIRC, it doesn't do much with mixed
breeds. Re training, I like Brian Kilcommons and Wilson's "Good
Owners, Great Dogs." It's a little dated, and it doesn't deal
with clicker training, but there are lots of good books that do,
e.g., Karen Pryor's "Getting Started: Clicker Training for Dogs."

FurPaw
--
"Every gun that is made, every warship launched,
every rocket fired, signifies in the final sense
a theft from those who hunger and are not fed,
those who are cold and are not clothed."
- Dwight D. Eisenhower

To reply, unleash the dogs.

"ellen" <epdpster@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:ebf7eae6-9aaa-4f7b-9f56-eb6713e97bcd@f47g2000hsd.googlegroups.com...
> this feels a bit like one of my 1st topic posts - (in)sanity check,
> which mused about heading off to the mountains alone (maybe in another
> life). the shelter called today to tell me that someone dropped off a
> litter of aussie puppies & wondered if i might be interested. i
> stopped by & broke into tears at the sight of a pup that looked just
> like elsey. played with the male of the group, who looked like a
> blonde lab. & tried my best to not get attached to the rest of the
> dogs & pups (geez there was one litter of about 10 black lab mix).
>
> i miss my old gal & would like to get another dog at some point. i'm
> not sure if that is now or when, i've never had a gap before. is it
> absolutely crazy to consider a puppy when i haven't even been healthy
> enough to hold down a job? a pup in possible peri? doesn't seem fair
> to the dog, actually... logic says one thing, the heart another.
>
> so any thoughts on this?

Yeah... FWWI... if you're an animal (dog, cat, whatever species) person,
then having one - or more - to care for is good. For both you & the
animal/pet. IOW, w/out -really- knowing the exact situation, I say let your
heart win out over logic in this case. ;-)

I haven't yet had a gap, re: pets. At least one has always still been alive
when an older one died. I think maybe a gap could be a problem, esp. for an
animal person.

Not quite the same scenario you're positing here, but semi-similar... I
adopted a stray cat when I was 2+ years post-meno, & was in the beginning of
my worst years of hot flashes, super-insomnia had set in, etc. And even
though my other two cats couldn't stand the newcomer (the younger one, who
had been Miss Cat Queen of the house, -totally- freaked re: his presence),
and the older of the two already-present cats was high-maintenance medically
(on 4 meds/day for a chronic liver problem), it was well worth it.

Cathy


>
> ellen

ellen <epdpster@gmail.com> wrote:

> i miss my old gal & would like to get another dog at some point. i'm
> not sure if that is now or when, i've never had a gap before. is it
> absolutely crazy to consider a puppy when i haven't even been healthy
> enough to hold down a job? a pup in possible peri? doesn't seem fair
> to the dog, actually... logic says one thing, the heart another.
>
> so any thoughts on this?

As others have said, pets are good therapy. Not being healthy enough to
work doesn't mean you aren't healthy enough to care for a pet. It's that
last that matters.

--
Keera in Norway * Think big and then ask for more.
http://home.online.no/~kafox/

ellen wrote:
> this feels a bit like one of my 1st topic posts - (in)sanity check,
> which mused about heading off to the mountains alone (maybe in another
> life). the shelter called today to tell me that someone dropped off a
> litter of aussie puppies & wondered if i might be interested. i
> stopped by & broke into tears at the sight of a pup that looked just
> like elsey. played with the male of the group, who looked like a
> blonde lab. & tried my best to not get attached to the rest of the
> dogs & pups (geez there was one litter of about 10 black lab mix).
>
> i miss my old gal & would like to get another dog at some point. i'm
> not sure if that is now or when, i've never had a gap before. is it
> absolutely crazy to consider a puppy when i haven't even been healthy
> enough to hold down a job? a pup in possible peri? doesn't seem fair
> to the dog, actually... logic says one thing, the heart another.
>
> so any thoughts on this?
>

You're hardly geriatric, "peri" isn't a life-threatening condition (in
and of itself). Walking a dog will give you good exercise (essential
at this time of life) and a pup will bring you many smiles.


--
Jette Goldie
jette@blueyonder.co.uk
http://www.jette.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/
http://wolfette.livejournal.com/
("reply to" is spamblocked - use the email addy in sig)

I prefer Females..don't know why but have always had them I also have
always preferred Bird Dogs..but these two Weimaraners we have now will be
our last big dogs. I have arthritic knees so walking them is out. I play
ball with them but we have decided when these two go over the bridge it will
be a small dog for us. My sister has a male Aussie..they are smart dogs and
learn obedience well. She even has her trained to sit down on the side of
the road and wait for her command to cross when she is out riding horses.
The problem with them is they like to herd..anybody or everybody...LOL. The
Border Collie is real smart too. I like the Dog Whisperers method of
training..I believe he has a book out....he really understands the minds of
dogs
"ellen" <epdpster@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:835b0be7-c358-4866-965e-8694d2a3a085@k2g2000hse.googlegroups.com...
> On Jan 10, 8:23 pm, FurPaw <furrealpaw...@gmaildog.com> wrote:
>> ellen wrote:
>> > this feels a bit like one of my 1st topic posts - (in)sanity check,
>> > which mused about heading off to the mountains alone (maybe in another
>> > life). the shelter called today to tell me that someone dropped off a
>> > litter of aussie puppies & wondered if i might be interested. i
>> > stopped by & broke into tears at the sight of a pup that looked just
>> > like elsey. played with the male of the group, who looked like a
>> > blonde lab. & tried my best to not get attached to the rest of the
>> > dogs & pups (geez there was one litter of about 10 black lab mix).
>>
>> > i miss my old gal & would like to get another dog at some point. i'm
>> > not sure if that is now or when, i've never had a gap before. is it
>> > absolutely crazy to consider a puppy when i haven't even been healthy
>> > enough to hold down a job? a pup in possible peri? doesn't seem fair
>> > to the dog, actually... logic says one thing, the heart another.
>>
>> > so any thoughts on this?
>>
>> You know yourself best, of course, but a puppy is a great
>> distraction and wonderful therapy. Or maybe an adult dog would
>> be a better fit for you now, because of the intense training that
>> puppies require.
>>
>> When we got our dogs, I was 44, 47 and 49 - four puppies in the
>> throes of peri (me, not the puppies :-P) ). But I expect that
>> our next dogs will be adults... until we walk into the shelter,
>> and then, who knows????
>>
>> _Logic_ would usually dictate that getting a dog 'now' is
>> impossible...
>>
>> FurPaw
>>
>> --
>> "Every gun that is made, every warship launched,
>> every rocket fired, signifies in the final sense
>> a theft from those who hunger and are not fed,
>> those who are cold and are not clothed."
>> - Dwight D. Eisenhower
>>
>> To reply, unleash the dogs.
>
> all good points. i was just browsing through petfinders looking at
> old goldens, one of which only has three legs...
>
> & maybe the next step might be to foster a dog.
>
> even if the time isn't/can't be now, i am wondering about a few other
> things as well. like getting a female or male dog. i've only had one
> male dog & that was years ago. any considerations in difference? i
> guess i tend toward big & calm breeds (which i don't think goldens
> qualify for), but i've always had strays so there have been alot of
> those ubiquitous shepard mixes in there. my dog before elsey was a
> belgian sheepdog/border collie mix.
>
> best available books on general dog selection/training?
>
> ellen

"ellen" <epdpster@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:ebf7eae6-9aaa-4f7b-9f56-eb6713e97bcd@f47g2000hsd.googlegroups.com...
> <snipped>
> i miss my old gal & would like to get another dog at some point.
> i'm
> not sure if that is now or when, i've never had a gap before. is it
> absolutely crazy to consider a puppy when i haven't even been
> healthy
> enough to hold down a job? a pup in possible peri? doesn't seem
> fair
> to the dog, actually... logic says one thing, the heart another.
>
> so any thoughts on this?

Would getting a puppy now enrich your life, and would the life of the
puppy be enriched by being owned by you?

--
Shirley
http://community.webshots.com/user/shirleycatuk

"Shirley" <shirleycatuk@google.com> wrote in message
news:ZEThj.46922$Hc3.261@newsfe1-gui.ntli.net...
>
> "ellen" <epdpster@gmail.com> wrote in message
> news:ebf7eae6-9aaa-4f7b-9f56-eb6713e97bcd@f47g2000hsd.googlegroups.com...
>> <snipped>
>> i miss my old gal & would like to get another dog at some point. i'm
>> not sure if that is now or when, i've never had a gap before. is it
>> absolutely crazy to consider a puppy when i haven't even been healthy
>> enough to hold down a job? a pup in possible peri? doesn't seem fair
>> to the dog, actually... logic says one thing, the heart another.
>>
>> so any thoughts on this?
>
> Would getting a puppy now enrich your life, and would the life of the
> puppy be enriched by being owned by you?

There it is, in a nutshell. :-)

Cathy


>
> --
> Shirley
> http://community.webshots.com/user/shirleycatuk
>
>
>

ellen wrote the following on 1/10/2008 8:08 PM:

> i miss my old gal & would like to get another dog at some point. i'm
> not sure if that is now or when, i've never had a gap before. is it
> absolutely crazy to consider a puppy when i haven't even been healthy
> enough to hold down a job? a pup in possible peri? doesn't seem fair
> to the dog, actually... logic says one thing, the heart another.

When we have lost a cat, one thing that has helped to ease the pain has
been to adopt another cat who is in need of a home. That way something
good comes out of the awfulness of losing a loved companion -- another
rescue gets a home and our grief is eased by the pleasure of a new
companion. That didn't happen with our last loss, mainly because she was
temporarily in our care when my son couldn't take her on a move. She put
us over quota, so her death put us back to where we had been six months
before. But I miss her and still tear up when I think about her.

A puppy or an adult dog is a very individual choice. Puppies are *really*
cute, and raising an animal "from scratch" has its benefits. However, it
is also a lot of work, and your home may sustain some damage in the
process. And older dog -- or even an older puppy -- may be calmer. If not
traumatized in their previous situation, they would probably be easier to
manage.

Karen R.

i appreciate everyone's suggestions/thoughts/perspectives/
experiences. all have been really helpful as i try to not get sucked
in by the puppy cuteness factor. which is not to say that i haven't
been to the shelter every day & signed pre-adoption papers.

even with the grief of losing elsey, i know there is room in my heart
even now for another dog. would the dog enrich my life? absolutely.
would the dog's life be enriched? i think so. the biggest concern is
my health, which seems to be issues beyond peri. alot of it seems
manageable, my biggest concern being the initial potential middle of
the night puppy needs, which could really screw with my sleep more.

dh isn't open to a foster dog, senior dog, or the dog with cancer that
has the 3 legs. & i understand it. loss is hard & he doesn't want to
open himself up to another loss sooner than not. he also doesn't want
to deal with the leg lifting or territory marking issues that come
with a male dog. we have looked at a 9(?) week or so lab(?) mix who
is the runt of the litter & is calm & a little shy.

thanks for the tips on books & breeds as well. i don't want the dog
to be smarter than us or be really high energy. any comments on runts
of the litter or shyness/cautiousness as a temperament trait (be
careful as i think some of that may apply to me as well, though
technically not from a litter)?

ellen

ellen wrote:

> even with the grief of losing elsey, i know there is room in my heart
> even now for another dog. would the dog enrich my life? absolutely.
> would the dog's life be enriched? i think so. the biggest concern is
> my health, which seems to be issues beyond peri. alot of it seems
> manageable, my biggest concern being the initial potential middle of
> the night puppy needs, which could really screw with my sleep more.

If DH is the main force driving for a puppy, wouldn't he be
willing to take night puppy duty, or at least share it with you?

> dh isn't open to a foster dog, senior dog, or the dog with cancer that
> has the 3 legs. & i understand it. loss is hard & he doesn't want to
> open himself up to another loss sooner than not. he also doesn't want
> to deal with the leg lifting or territory marking issues that come
> with a male dog. we have looked at a 9(?) week or so lab(?) mix who
> is the runt of the litter & is calm & a little shy.

> thanks for the tips on books & breeds as well. i don't want the dog
> to be smarter than us or be really high energy. any comments on runts
> of the litter or shyness/cautiousness as a temperament trait (be
> careful as i think some of that may apply to me as well, though
> technically not from a litter)?

Labs are high energy dogs, and they can be pretty goofy as
puppies until they get their brains (usually delivered around age
2-3). And while not as brilliant as border collies, they are
pretty smart - if they weren't they wouldn't be so widely used as
service dogs. Not that I'd ever discourage anyone from getting a
Lab - they're wonderful, loving, easy-going dogs (once they lose
their goofiness. Well, I don't know if they ever lose their
goofiness - Oppie is 11.5 and he's still a goofball.) (BTW, some
females will also mark territory.)

What do you mean by "shy"? Is the dog fearful or is she just a
little hesitant but still willing to approach new situations and
people? I'd be more concerned about fearful; hesitant but
willing I think you can manage by making sure she gets lots of
socialization experiences as she's growing up.

Have you considered performing some temperament tests, such as
these? http://www.nrta.com/breedforfoundation/temptest.html That
can help you systematically evaluate the kind of dog a pup is
likely to be. (Google on puppy temperament testing and you'll
find quite a bit of information.) Of course, there are
limitations to temperament tests... we used these when we
selected Dylan and thought we were getting a calm, middle of the
road dog. It turned out that she was coming down with parvo -
symptoms appeared the next day after we got her home. So that
sick little puppy turned out to be dominant, bossy, pushy,
independent... and we loved her spirit, even if it did make
training her a real challenge.

FurPaw


--
"Every gun that is made, every warship launched,
every rocket fired, signifies in the final sense
a theft from those who hunger and are not fed,
those who are cold and are not clothed."
- Dwight D. Eisenhower

To reply, unleash the dogs.

On Jan 13, 2:00 am, FurPaw <furrealpaw...@gmaildog.com> wrote:
> ellen wrote:
> > even with the grief of losing elsey, i know there is room in my heart
> > even now for another dog. would the dog enrich my life? absolutely.
> > would the dog's life be enriched? i think so. the biggest concern is
> > my health, which seems to be issues beyond peri. alot of it seems
> > manageable, my biggest concern being the initial potential middle of
> > the night puppy needs, which could really screw with my sleep more.
>
> If DH is the main force driving for a puppy, wouldn't he be
> willing to take night puppy duty, or at least share it with you?
>
> > dh isn't open to a foster dog, senior dog, or the dog with cancer that
> > has the 3 legs. & i understand it. loss is hard & he doesn't want to
> > open himself up to another loss sooner than not. he also doesn't want
> > to deal with the leg lifting or territory marking issues that come
> > with a male dog. we have looked at a 9(?) week or so lab(?) mix who
> > is the runt of the litter & is calm & a little shy.
> > thanks for the tips on books & breeds as well. i don't want the dog
> > to be smarter than us or be really high energy. any comments on runts
> > of the litter or shyness/cautiousness as a temperament trait (be
> > careful as i think some of that may apply to me as well, though
> > technically not from a litter)?
>
> Labs are high energy dogs, and they can be pretty goofy as
> puppies until they get their brains (usually delivered around age
> 2-3). And while not as brilliant as border collies, they are
> pretty smart - if they weren't they wouldn't be so widely used as
> service dogs. Not that I'd ever discourage anyone from getting a
> Lab - they're wonderful, loving, easy-going dogs (once they lose
> their goofiness. Well, I don't know if they ever lose their
> goofiness - Oppie is 11.5 and he's still a goofball.) (BTW, some
> females will also mark territory.)
>
> What do you mean by "shy"? Is the dog fearful or is she just a
> little hesitant but still willing to approach new situations and
> people? I'd be more concerned about fearful; hesitant but
> willing I think you can manage by making sure she gets lots of
> socialization experiences as she's growing up.
>
> Have you considered performing some temperament tests, such as
> these?http://www.nrta.com/breedforfoundation/temptest.html That
> can help you systematically evaluate the kind of dog a pup is
> likely to be. (Google on puppy temperament testing and you'll
> find quite a bit of information.) Of course, there are
> limitations to temperament tests... we used these when we
> selected Dylan and thought we were getting a calm, middle of the
> road dog. It turned out that she was coming down with parvo -
> symptoms appeared the next day after we got her home. So that
> sick little puppy turned out to be dominant, bossy, pushy,
> independent... and we loved her spirit, even if it did make
> training her a real challenge.
>
> FurPaw
>
> --
> "Every gun that is made, every warship launched,
> every rocket fired, signifies in the final sense
> a theft from those who hunger and are not fed,
> those who are cold and are not clothed."
> - Dwight D. Eisenhower
>
> To reply, unleash the dogs.

great info, furpaw. i was impressed that i had generally recalled
correctly how to test for things, but it helps to see it laid out like
that. that's a good link & i will look more today online. elsey was
actually a little fearful & independent & that did present certain
challenges. responsive dogs always made me feel like i was a dog
training genius. dominant & pushy were the hardest traits for me to
deal with - glad dylan responded to training & has smart/generous
owners who can appreciate her spirit.

that comment about the age at which labs acquire their brains cracked
me up. i have a friend whose lab wagged its tail so vigorously that
it actually broke it. the mix that we've looked at is pretty
distilled & really, it's the typical shelter surprise. the litter
will be evaluated by the vet on monday, so we'll get health info
then. though as you pointed out, that still doesn't uncover all
things.

dh is willing to share night duties. & now seems willing to look at
dogs a little older (6 months -2 years). so i'll start reading & keep
reflecting on it. dh said he wants a monkey & told me that one would
be helpful around the house. i pointed out that i already have one &
he's not good for much in that realm. he corrected me & told me that
i have a grease monkey.

we know someone who had a relative who owned a monkey. when another
family member gave birth to her 1st child, they generously gave her a
box of infant clothes. every pair of pants had a hole cut into the
seat.

ellen

Runts can grow up to be great dog with special love and care. Sometimes
health issues may crop up...which makes it important to have your vet check
him out before papers are signed. Have the breeder meet you at your Vets
office with the puppy. Sometimes a shy puppy can turn into a fear
biter(which can be curtailed with the right training) Does she cower from
you when you pick her up..or will she at least sniff your hand. Jingle key
or make sounds with your mouth and see if she shows interest. She may turn
out to be a great dog but you really will have to check out how to deal with
a shy/cautious puppy. With allot of love and attention she will learn to
trust you. Who knows being away from a large litter may be all she needs
too. Sometimes it's hard to tell how a puppy will turn out. We picked Elsa
when she was 8 weeks old(she came from a litter of 13)...she trotted right
up to us like to say pick me up you are mine. We picked her up and she
grunted as Weimaraners do...and it was love at first sight. We ignored the
dirt on her nose...yep she's a digger..or used to be Usually any bird
dog will be a pretty active dog..and they need their exercise or they will
be getting themselves into trouble. My girls and I play fetch daily until
they lay down and say enough! I can't walk them anymore but playing fetch is
great exercise..plus we have almost 5 acres that they can run about when we
are outside with them(Most is not fences)


"ellen" <epdpster@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:681e023e-ec27-41ef-bc81-6bd6438b48f5@k39g2000hsf.googlegroups.com...
>i appreciate everyone's suggestions/thoughts/perspectives/
> experiences. all have been really helpful as i try to not get sucked
> in by the puppy cuteness factor. which is not to say that i haven't
> been to the shelter every day & signed pre-adoption papers.
>
> even with the grief of losing elsey, i know there is room in my heart
> even now for another dog. would the dog enrich my life? absolutely.
> would the dog's life be enriched? i think so. the biggest concern is
> my health, which seems to be issues beyond peri. alot of it seems
> manageable, my biggest concern being the initial potential middle of
> the night puppy needs, which could really screw with my sleep more.
>
> dh isn't open to a foster dog, senior dog, or the dog with cancer that
> has the 3 legs. & i understand it. loss is hard & he doesn't want to
> open himself up to another loss sooner than not. he also doesn't want
> to deal with the leg lifting or territory marking issues that come
> with a male dog. we have looked at a 9(?) week or so lab(?) mix who
> is the runt of the litter & is calm & a little shy.
>
> thanks for the tips on books & breeds as well. i don't want the dog
> to be smarter than us or be really high energy. any comments on runts
> of the litter or shyness/cautiousness as a temperament trait (be
> careful as i think some of that may apply to me as well, though
> technically not from a litter)?
>
> ellen

On Jan 15, 1:57 pm, "jacquie" <happikat...@earthlink.net> wrote:
> Runts can grow up to be great dog with special love and care. Sometimes
> health issues may crop up...which makes it important to have your vet check
> him out before papers are signed. Have the breeder meet you at your Vets
> office with the puppy. Sometimes a shy puppy can turn into a fear
> biter(which can be curtailed with the right training) Does she cower from
> you when you pick her up..or will she at least sniff your hand. Jingle key
> or make sounds with your mouth and see if she shows interest. She may turn
> out to be a great dog but you really will have to check out how to deal with
> a shy/cautious puppy. With allot of love and attention she will learn to
> trust you. Who knows being away from a large litter may be all she needs
> too. Sometimes it's hard to tell how a puppy will turn out. We picked Elsa
> when she was 8 weeks old(she came from a litter of 13)...she trotted right
> up to us like to say pick me up you are mine. We picked her up and she
> grunted as Weimaraners do...and it was love at first sight. We ignored the
> dirt on her nose...yep she's a digger..or used to be Usually any bird
> dog will be a pretty active dog..and they need their exercise or they will
> be getting themselves into trouble. My girls and I play fetch daily until
> they lay down and say enough! I can't walk them anymore but playing fetch is
> great exercise..plus we have almost 5 acres that they can run about when we
> are outside with them(Most is not fences)
>
> "ellen" <epdps...@gmail.com> wrote in message
>
> news:681e023e-ec27-41ef-bc81-6bd6438b48f5@k39g2000hsf.googlegroups.com...
>
> >i appreciate everyone's suggestions/thoughts/perspectives/
> > experiences. all have been really helpful as i try to not get sucked
> > in by the puppy cuteness factor. which is not to say that i haven't
> > been to the shelter every day & signed pre-adoption papers.
>
> > even with the grief of losing elsey, i know there is room in my heart
> > even now for another dog. would the dog enrich my life? absolutely.
> > would the dog's life be enriched? i think so. the biggest concern is
> > my health, which seems to be issues beyond peri. alot of it seems
> > manageable, my biggest concern being the initial potential middle of
> > the night puppy needs, which could really screw with my sleep more.
>
> > dh isn't open to a foster dog, senior dog, or the dog with cancer that
> > has the 3 legs. & i understand it. loss is hard & he doesn't want to
> > open himself up to another loss sooner than not. he also doesn't want
> > to deal with the leg lifting or territory marking issues that come
> > with a male dog. we have looked at a 9(?) week or so lab(?) mix who
> > is the runt of the litter & is calm & a little shy.
>
> > thanks for the tips on books & breeds as well. i don't want the dog
> > to be smarter than us or be really high energy. any comments on runts
> > of the litter or shyness/cautiousness as a temperament trait (be
> > careful as i think some of that may apply to me as well, though
> > technically not from a litter)?
>
> > ellen

hi jacquie,

thanks for that runt advice. i've only picked 2 pups out of litters
before - one came up to me just like elsa did to you at about the same
age. she ended up being an outstanding dog - very responsive & well
behaved (aside from stealing treats out of elderly ladies purses).
trained well & was so obedient that i rarely needed to leash her. the
second was more dominant & was the most difficult dog that i had ever
worked with. the others have just arrived on my doorstep in one way
or another.

very fun to have 5 acres to run in.

ellen

what actually happened:

shelter pups + ellen + play time = fun, but not equal to elsey.

HUGE dog in need of home - listening to cosmic warning signs x dog
maladies to the nth degree (including dermatological
disaster=continuous scratching) - good judgement = major ellen/dog
misadventure = dog gone = ellen's dander induced lung/sinus/ear
infection =
_______________________________

i miss oldelseydog


ellen, slow at math, among other things.

ellen wrote the following on 1/26/2008 10:27 AM:
> what actually happened:
>
> shelter pups + ellen + play time = fun, but not equal to elsey.
>
> HUGE dog in need of home - listening to cosmic warning signs x dog
> maladies to the nth degree (including dermatological
> disaster=continuous scratching) - good judgement = major ellen/dog
> misadventure = dog gone = ellen's dander induced lung/sinus/ear
> infection =

Oh, dear. Details? Continuous scratching may be due to a food allergy.
One of my cats developed badly flaking skin. When I put her on a food
that contains no wheat she got much better. She is now on a food that
contains no grains, and is doing even better.

> i miss oldelseydog

It is hard when they leave us. You will probably be tearing up for a
while -- I know I have after losing a cat.

Karen R.

On Jan 26, 12:19 pm, WWWSC #4 <kre...@gmail.com> wrote:
> ellen wrote the following on 1/26/2008 10:27 AM:
>
> > what actually happened:
>
> > shelter pups + ellen + play time = fun, but not equal to elsey.
>
> > HUGE dog in need of home - listening to cosmic warning signs x dog
> > maladies to the nth degree (including dermatological
> > disaster=continuous scratching) - good judgement = major ellen/dog
> > misadventure = dog gone = ellen's dander induced lung/sinus/ear
> > infection =
>
> Oh, dear. Details? Continuous scratching may be due to a food allergy.
> One of my cats developed badly flaking skin. When I put her on a food
> that contains no wheat she got much better. She is now on a food that
> contains no grains, and is doing even better.
>
> > i miss oldelseydog
>
> It is hard when they leave us. You will probably be tearing up for a
> while -- I know I have after losing a cat.
>
> Karen R.

the details are numerous & ridiculous. the thing is that i really had
come to the conclusion that it wasn't time & that maybe peri was
driving puppy craving/bender rather than 'want puppy, what about
peri?'

then i got a call & dh was being so supportive that he became ethel to
my lucy & we were off on a wild dog chase that included lots of
driving/way wrong directions/2 meeting attempts/who knew that there
were 2 entrances to that park?/etc.

poor big gumpy dog of perhaps newfie/afghan/shepherd/lab/clydesdale or
hobbit (feet, not body) origins was scared of us & barked at us. i
knew immediately -no, but we all felt bad about driving so much &
well, what about a weekend try? she really was a gentle gal & did
come willingly with us. didn't realize until she got in the car that
she must have spent alot of time in the barn rolling in horse poop.
didn't figure out the nasty dermatological condition & blind eye until
we got her home.

didn't fully realize how much i missed my dog until we got her in the
house. she was sad, i was sad. think i sobbed myself to sleep that
night. by the next day, i was able to at least appreciate her
personality & such. but the constant scratching was already making me
really sick. she was really too big for our house & wasn't the type
of dog that would be easy to take everywhere (she had that shepherd
cautiousness/security thing going).

hope she finds a good home. she'll probably need alot of vet care -
in addition to the skin/eye stuff, she had the biggest hips that i've
ever seen on a dog. i noticed that she never sat & slowly went into
her lie down position (which covered our entire living room rug). but
she had a good weekend in the city. i suspect her respiratory effects
on me will last a bit longer than the bath we gave to her.

ellen

ellen wrote the following on 1/27/2008 11:13 AM:

> the details are numerous & ridiculous. the thing is that i really had
> come to the conclusion that it wasn't time & that maybe peri was
> driving puppy craving/bender rather than 'want puppy, what about
> peri?'

Ellen -- somewhere out there is the perfect dog for you. When both of you
are ready you will meet and the rapport will be instant. You will know,
without a doubt, that you have made the right choice.

Karen R.

On Jan 27, 11:20 am, WWWSC #4 <kre...@gmail.com> wrote:
> ellen wrote the following on 1/27/2008 11:13 AM:
>
> > the details are numerous & ridiculous. the thing is that i really had
> > come to the conclusion that it wasn't time & that maybe peri was
> > driving puppy craving/bender rather than 'want puppy, what about
> > peri?'
>
> Ellen -- somewhere out there is the perfect dog for you. When both of you
> are ready you will meet and the rapport will be instant. You will know,
> without a doubt, that you have made the right choice.
>
> Karen R.

thanks, karen. that's what happened with serendipitous elsey.

ellen

On Jan 27, 8:29*am, ellen <epdps...@gmail.com> wrote:
> On Jan 27, 11:20 am, WWWSC #4 <kre...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> > ellen wrote the following on 1/27/2008 11:13 AM:
>
> > > the details are numerous & ridiculous. *the thing is that i really had
> > > come to the conclusion that it wasn't time & that maybe peri was
> > > driving puppy craving/bender rather than 'want puppy, what about
> > > peri?'
>
> > Ellen -- somewhere out there is the perfect dog for you. When both of you
> > are ready you will meet and the rapport will be instant. You will know,
> > without a doubt, that you have made the right choice.
>
> > Karen R.
>
> thanks, karen. *that's what happened with serendipitous elsey.
>
> ellen

I read about a temperament test the other day--try rolling a puppy on
its back and holding it down for 30 seconds. If it fights hard and
refuses to make eye contact, it will probably have a dominant
personality. A puppy that accepts the hand and tries to lick it will
be more submissive. Submissive dogs do have disadvantages. Our
Ebony's insatiable urge to ingratiate makes her alternate between
kowtowing, and licking and jumping on people. Of course she is part
Lab (and whippet?), so at 3 she still has some growing up to do.
Les

"ellen" <epdpster@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:ca04e6db-ad11-4e3d-8fb0-ac7cea8f3292@y5g2000hsf.googlegroups.com...
> what actually happened:
>
> shelter pups + ellen + play time = fun, but not equal to elsey.
>
> HUGE dog in need of home - listening to cosmic warning signs x dog
> maladies to the nth degree (including dermatological
> disaster=continuous scratching) - good judgement = major ellen/dog
> misadventure = dog gone = ellen's dander induced lung/sinus/ear
> infection =
> _______________________________
>
> i miss oldelseydog
>
>
> ellen, slow at math, among other things.

Aw, that's too bad. For both of you. I hope someone else adopts her, &
that you eventually find another dog, too.

Cathy

On Jan 27, 4:01 pm, "Cathy F." <clfrc...@adelphiadotdashdot.net>
wrote:
> "ellen" <epdps...@gmail.com> wrote in message
>
> news:ca04e6db-ad11-4e3d-8fb0-ac7cea8f3292@y5g2000hsf.googlegroups.com...
>
> > what actually happened:
>
> > shelter pups + ellen + play time = fun, but not equal to elsey.
>
> > HUGE dog in need of home - listening to cosmic warning signs x dog
> > maladies to the nth degree (including dermatological
> > disaster=continuous scratching) - good judgement = major ellen/dog
> > misadventure = dog gone = ellen's dander induced lung/sinus/ear
> > infection =
> > _______________________________
>
> > i miss oldelseydog
>
> > ellen, slow at math, among other things.
>
> Aw, that's too bad. For both of you. I hope someone else adopts her, &
> that you eventually find another dog, too.
>
> Cathy

thanks cathy. hope you have fun at 'wait wait don't tell me.' i
haven't listened to npr in awhile (got mad when our local station
changed their format to all news & never returned), but their
programming is always great.

ellen