Should I get a Dog ? - The Firearms Forum

nevadal · 06-24-2012, 10:20 PM

I have now found myself retired, and probably old by many standards.
I live by myself, and could use the company....however the exorbitant cost of vets is definitely a factor.

My good friend just sold his Harley to pay a vet, and the dog still died.

My last dog was the most fantastic Dobie known to man, He had me for
14 years, and when he died, it was many times worse than losing a family member. I just get so attached to a dog that always gives more than it takes.

Whatcha think ?

norahc · 06-24-2012, 10:21 PM

cycloneman · 06-24-2012, 10:27 PM

I think you should raise chickens

CampingJosh · 06-24-2012, 10:49 PM

I'm a fan of dogs. I'm voting that you get one.

Would I give up my Harley to try to keep my pup? Probably, though it would depend some on expected lifetime and quality of life for the dog following whatever procedure was needed.

CJ_56 · 06-24-2012, 11:11 PM

The first rule of owning a dog is that dogs die. It stinks but we can own a lot of dogs in a lifetime. If it hurts more than losing a family member then IMO don't get one. I love my animals and it hurts for years when I lose one. I'm still sad over losing my dog from when I was a kid and that was 50 years ago. But I know that we have to accept that dogs die before we do. I've never let that stop me from getting dogs. I've owned many in my life too. But I don't treat them like family. I know I will lose them so I accept it more than you judging by my limited knowledge of you from your post.

Secondly it sometimes becomes extremely expensive if we insist on extraordinary measures to keep an animal alive. So again, I don't treat animals like family. Some of the hardest decisions I've ever made in my life were about letting go of a pet. But I know that no matter how much money we spend dogs still die. There has to be a limit because we aren't God and we shouldn't try to act like Him.

If you can live with those two rules owning a dog becomes one of the great joys of life. Every dog I own learns to smile because I make them extremely happy. I don't know if you've seen a dog smile but it only happens when they are as happy as a dog gets. They show their teeth and wag their tails because they like their life and they like their owners. I have a dog now that's worth his weight in gold IMO. He's an incredibly good watch dog. He never barks except when there's a really good reason to bark. He's insanely fast so animals and people can't intimidate him or hurt him easily. Shooting that dog would require incredible skill because he's moving at the speed of light it seems. He also won't eat anything unless I give it to him. So he's just about as good as it gets for being a watchdog. He's also becoming a good squirrel dog. That's something it's hard to teach a dog. Teaching them to hunt other things is much easier IMO because squirrels spend most of their lives way at the top of big trees. They just don't spend enough time on the ground to track. So they have to be winded. That's what us hillbillies call smelling an animal from a passing wind and being able to then track down the tree that the smell is coming from. Many dogs hunt squirrels by sight too. Both ways are ways they just have to pick up themselves. There are things we can do to help some but not a lot. It's not like hunting coons which spend a lot of time on the ground.

The only other drawback to owning a dog is what to do with them if you want to go on vacation. Having a friend to stay with the dog is best. Paying for a kennel is the worst. Many dogs hate kennels.

I could list a million reasons to own a dog. Again I've owned so many I couldn't begin to count them. I generally own several at any given time. I'm trying to limit myself to one at a time now. Too many dogs together can develop a pack mentality and they will do things they would never do on their own. I live where I can let my pets run free. I don't like to restrain a dog. And that means watching them close to make sure they don't start running in a pack because packs of dogs sometimes kill people or livestock or other people's pets, etc.. The only other thing to watch for is a dog getting into people's garbage. Once they start that expect to tie them up forever.

That's about it for dog rules. They can give you lots of things. My great, great, great, great grandfather had a dog that saved his life by distracting a bear that was after him. He had his feet tangled up in briars on the side of a mountain and couldn't get a shot off at the bear for a while. The dog kept the bear occupied until he could get free and shoot the bear. I have the same breed of dog he had as a matter of fact. I've seen my dog chase off two bears at once while another ran off on the other side of the ridge line. It was a mother and two cubs. He was too late to save one of my cats but the other two were saved by him and he's no doubt kept that bear from killing those cats since then. A dog can be a valuable thing. I could go on about shepherd dogs and the work they did for us too but this post is already too long.

dons2346 · 06-25-2012, 12:03 AM

A dog will be your best friend.

Appliancedude · 06-25-2012, 12:42 AM

Another yes vote. if you get a cat, you lose your man card and get to hang with highboy and the other ladys

hstout1143 · 06-25-2012, 12:45 AM

YES! It's a no brainer.

USNative · 06-25-2012, 02:28 AM

Man's best friend, I think they are a good thing to have around. You can't get anything much more loyal than a good dog. I love em' myself and I think you and everyone should have one.

Zhurh · 06-25-2012, 02:54 AM

We've always had outside dogs & then also a house dog. The house dog is like another kid, but keeps everything on the straight and narrow around the place, bear, rabbits, and teenage neighbor kids that always go through that stage. We couldn't never do without a hound around.

wv hillbilly · 06-25-2012, 06:50 AM

by all means get a dog
please remember: all living creatures will die at some point

JohnHenry · 06-25-2012, 07:03 AM

Don't get a puppy ! Adopt an older adult dog .... there must be a animal rescue
somewhere in your area .... visit them and see what they have .
There are several advantages to adopting , talk to the folks at the shelter about them.

Iron Eagle · 06-25-2012, 07:07 AM

Inside dogs are not an option for me, because of allergies. We have a parakeet, and he is a lot of fun to interact with.

Insulation Tim · 06-25-2012, 07:37 AM

We've had cats for 40 plus years....BUT they are cats. I got my first dog 2 years ago from a reputable breeder and my life got better.

Are they work? Hell yes and very demanding of time. Cats are independent by nature; dogs are needy. Cats only seem to display affection only when there is an ulterior reason (food). Dogs never seem to stop displaying affection for you, no matter what.

It seems as if you have laid out the pros and cons as they would affect your life. I agree with getting an older dog at a Rescue. When researching my dog, I decided that I really wanted a King Charles Cavalier. I went to all of the shelters and Rescues and was politely told that, "if someone were to drop off a King Charles, it would be adopted in 5 minutes.

Bringing Charlie into my life chaged life dramatically, as did the 3 boys we were gifted with.

My son who is a biologist feels that a mutt is inherently healthier than purbreeds.

Either way, as was pointed out earlier, all pets die at sometime. Just as humans.

Good luck.

bobski · 06-25-2012, 07:40 AM

animals die. they break you heart.
if youre not strong enough to face it, i say no.
this is why God created people to live longer. its so we dont have to experience death as often, and yet people die more often too.
farmers become numb to animal death. to them, its a part of survival.
but when you make an animal a pet, you get attached, and you set yourself up for hurt.
after a lifetime of 400 cats, and 300 dogs...at my age, i cant take it anymore.
the pain is too much. and so is the cost.
just my 2 cents.

mintaka · 06-25-2012, 08:15 AM

In the simplest of terms, where else can you give an ounce and get a ton in return.....they ask for so little, and in return give you a life of love and loyalty, and with all that, will gladly give their life in your protection...there is the dog and nothing else comes close...what's to think about...life is a risk,a dog is a sure thing

Mike1959 · 06-25-2012, 08:30 AM

Absolutely YES. my wife was not very dog friendly until we got a new Lab puppy. She is now head over heels in love with this dog, it is so comical. The other night she even said "I love you" to the dog befor me!

soundguy · 06-25-2012, 08:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nevadal

I have now found myself retired, and probably old by many standards.
I live by myself, and could use the company....however the exorbitant cost of vets is definitely a factor.

My good friend just sold his Harley to pay a vet, and the dog still died.

My last dog was the most fantastic Dobie known to man, He had me for
14 years, and when he died, it was many times worse than losing a family member. I just get so attached to a dog that always gives more than it takes.

Whatcha think ?

get you a runaway or look int he paper for a 'free to a good home' add. get a dog past puppy stage thus past most of the juvenile vet stuff. a good dog is a good companion. you tyaking in an unwated dog will make him attach to you. most adult dogs don't need alot of vet stuff unless an inury happens.. like car/dog collision. that can be controlled by you and the dog.. past that.. choose a breed with no hip problems.. and if a female.. get a spayed one.. get one with no stomache issues..

good luck

techiej · 06-25-2012, 10:22 AM

+ on adopting from a shelter/humane society. We've gotten all of our dogs (5 over the years) this way and for a companion dog can't be beat. Also, by getting a dog out of the puppy stage you avoid the hassle of house breaking the puppy, shots and neutering.

Our latest addition to the family is a 6 year old (older than what we planned on getting) blue heeler-german shepard mix. He is almost all black and intimdates strangers due to his intense stare and big white teeth. In fact they were having a hard time placing him due to his looks and that he is not a licker with regards to affection.

After a few months he has turned into the best dog -- attitude, loyalty, affection, obedience -- that we've ever had.

He did come with a pre-existing heart murmur but it is one that we can either spend a fortune on preventive care/monitoring or provide him with the best possible life for as long as he lives which is what we opted to do. Funny thing is that everytime we woudl visit a vet for the first time (moved a few times so changed vets) they would always id the murmur, recommend EKG's/cardiologist visits, etc. to the tune of $1,000+ which would just let us know what the exact cause was of the murmur and maybe be able to id what meds to put him on, or require major surgery. In each case when we pressed the vets what they all said was that we could just give him a good life, plenty of exercise and monitor him for any major changes and he would probably live just as long anyways!!!

time2shoot · 06-25-2012, 11:16 AM

yes. I would if i could. Two of the kids have alergies to them so we cant.

dad2thebone · 06-25-2012, 12:58 PM

I vote on the yes side. I've lost some fantastic dogs and it hurt alot. time heals all but the memories are forever. I have a rott and a 14 year old pitt thats not doing well but i wouldnt trade a min with him. GET THE DOG!

nevadal · 06-25-2012, 02:07 PM

HMMM, I do like eggs.

nevadal · 06-25-2012, 02:09 PM

Thanks to all of you....I'm now looking into doggie doors.

Double D · 06-25-2012, 03:19 PM

Even with the pain of losing them, the years of joy and unconditional love they will bring you is so worth it, I wouldnt give it a second thought. Dogs are awesome. They will love you like no other and not ask much in return. They love you with all their heart, every day, no matter what you do or say. They worship the ground you walk on and are more loyal than most humans. Dont deprive yourself of all of that. Go get one!

CJ_56 · 06-25-2012, 04:23 PM

I got an adult shelter dog and he is now a fantastic dog. I described him in a previous post (#5) so I won't do that again. I have to say it was a struggle with this dog for about 3 years before he finally became a pet and really part of the family. He had been so used to doing exactly what he wanted all the time with hundreds of other dogs to play with that he wasn't people friendly like most dogs are. At least not for a long time he wasn't. Now he's great. But I don't think I'll get another shelter dog unless it's a pup.

The best dogs I've gotten as adults I got from ads in the newspaper. They have been socialized. Dogs aren't naturally born that way. If you don't spend time with a dog when it's a young pup it will grow up feral and be a really dangerous animal. I've seen that happen before. My grandmother's house had a really low crawl space under the floor. Dogs would sometimes have pups there. If we didn't crawl in there and bring out the pups they would grow up wild animals. And they were flat dangerous.

I'm just saying dogs need to be socialized and shelter dogs don't always come that way. If you want to get a shelter dog I'd be very careful about it. I'd want to spend some time alone with the dog before taking it home. The dog I got actually seemed friendly but when I got him home and he immediately became extremely destructive it was a real challenge to train him. He didn't take to any discipline at all. He reacted with total fear which made further training much harder. I'm not talking about whacking him with a club. Just a harsh word was enough to illicit a fear response.

Now the dog is great. But I'd suggest being prepared for a long struggle with a shelter dog to make them great pets. And if you haven't had a lot of experience with dogs I'd get one that was already part of someone's family. You'll find them in the newspaper. There are always reasons people have to give up their pets even though they really don't want to do it. I got a miniature collie like that and it was a fantastic dog. I got a Cairn Terrier that someone dropped off by my house once too. It was an incredibly good dog, the best I ever owned and that's saying a lot. BTW please NEVER drop off a dog and expect someone to take it in. 99.9% of the time a dog will starve to death in that situation.

06-24-2012, 10:20 PM	#1
nevadal V.I.P. Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Nevada Posts: 128	Should I get a Dog ? I have now found myself retired, and probably old by many standards. I live by myself, and could use the company....however the exorbitant cost of vets is definitely a factor. My good friend just sold his Harley to pay a vet, and the dog still died. My last dog was the most fantastic Dobie known to man, He had me for 14 years, and when he died, it was many times worse than losing a family member. I just get so attached to a dog that always gives more than it takes. Whatcha think ? -->

06-24-2012, 10:27 PM	#3
cycloneman Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Louisiana Posts: 7,407	Re: Should I get a Dog ? I think you should raise chickens __________________ Who are you going to serve today?

06-24-2012, 10:49 PM	#4
CampingJosh TFF Moderator/Host Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Indiana Contributor Posts: 4,788	Re: Should I get a Dog ? I'm a fan of dogs. I'm voting that you get one. Would I give up my Harley to try to keep my pup? Probably, though it would depend some on expected lifetime and quality of life for the dog following whatever procedure was needed. __________________ Nothing posted on TheFirearmsForum.com constitutes legal, accounting, gunsmithing, or other professional advice. Readers are encouraged to consult with qualified professionals for real advice. Your life is lived at your own risk. Don't blame me for the dumb things you do.

06-25-2012, 12:03 AM	#6
dons2346 Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Move between WA and points south Contributor Posts: 1,415	Re: Should I get a Dog ? A dog will be your best friend. __________________ "A strong body makes the mind strong. As to the species of exercises, I advise the gun. While this gives moderate exercise to the body, it gives boldness, enterprise and independence to the mind. Games played with the ball, and others of that nature, are too violent for the body and stamp no character on the mind. Let your gun therefore be your constant companion of your walks." --Thomas Jefferson, letter to Peter Carr, 1785

06-25-2012, 12:42 AM	#7
Appliancedude Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: The true northern Cal Posts: 1,562	Re: Should I get a Dog ? Another yes vote. if you get a cat, you lose your man card and get to hang with highboy and the other ladys __________________ It ain't broke it just lacks duct tape. The nice thing about opinions is everybody has one.

06-24-2012, 11:11 PM	#5
CJ_56 V.I.P. Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: SE Ohio Posts: 391	Re: Should I get a Dog ? The first rule of owning a dog is that dogs die. It stinks but we can own a lot of dogs in a lifetime. If it hurts more than losing a family member then IMO don't get one. I love my animals and it hurts for years when I lose one. I'm still sad over losing my dog from when I was a kid and that was 50 years ago. But I know that we have to accept that dogs die before we do. I've never let that stop me from getting dogs. I've owned many in my life too. But I don't treat them like family. I know I will lose them so I accept it more than you judging by my limited knowledge of you from your post. Secondly it sometimes becomes extremely expensive if we insist on extraordinary measures to keep an animal alive. So again, I don't treat animals like family. Some of the hardest decisions I've ever made in my life were about letting go of a pet. But I know that no matter how much money we spend dogs still die. There has to be a limit because we aren't God and we shouldn't try to act like Him. If you can live with those two rules owning a dog becomes one of the great joys of life. Every dog I own learns to smile because I make them extremely happy. I don't know if you've seen a dog smile but it only happens when they are as happy as a dog gets. They show their teeth and wag their tails because they like their life and they like their owners. I have a dog now that's worth his weight in gold IMO. He's an incredibly good watch dog. He never barks except when there's a really good reason to bark. He's insanely fast so animals and people can't intimidate him or hurt him easily. Shooting that dog would require incredible skill because he's moving at the speed of light it seems. He also won't eat anything unless I give it to him. So he's just about as good as it gets for being a watchdog. He's also becoming a good squirrel dog. That's something it's hard to teach a dog. Teaching them to hunt other things is much easier IMO because squirrels spend most of their lives way at the top of big trees. They just don't spend enough time on the ground to track. So they have to be winded. That's what us hillbillies call smelling an animal from a passing wind and being able to then track down the tree that the smell is coming from. Many dogs hunt squirrels by sight too. Both ways are ways they just have to pick up themselves. There are things we can do to help some but not a lot. It's not like hunting coons which spend a lot of time on the ground. The only other drawback to owning a dog is what to do with them if you want to go on vacation. Having a friend to stay with the dog is best. Paying for a kennel is the worst. Many dogs hate kennels. I could list a million reasons to own a dog. Again I've owned so many I couldn't begin to count them. I generally own several at any given time. I'm trying to limit myself to one at a time now. Too many dogs together can develop a pack mentality and they will do things they would never do on their own. I live where I can let my pets run free. I don't like to restrain a dog. And that means watching them close to make sure they don't start running in a pack because packs of dogs sometimes kill people or livestock or other people's pets, etc.. The only other thing to watch for is a dog getting into people's garbage. Once they start that expect to tie them up forever. That's about it for dog rules. They can give you lots of things. My great, great, great, great grandfather had a dog that saved his life by distracting a bear that was after him. He had his feet tangled up in briars on the side of a mountain and couldn't get a shot off at the bear for a while. The dog kept the bear occupied until he could get free and shoot the bear. I have the same breed of dog he had as a matter of fact. I've seen my dog chase off two bears at once while another ran off on the other side of the ridge line. It was a mother and two cubs. He was too late to save one of my cats but the other two were saved by him and he's no doubt kept that bear from killing those cats since then. A dog can be a valuable thing. I could go on about shepherd dogs and the work they did for us too but this post is already too long.

06-25-2012, 12:45 AM	#8
hstout1143 Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: California Contributor Posts: 1,747	Re: Should I get a Dog ? YES! It's a no brainer. __________________ NRA Life Member Kids that hunt and fish don't mug old ladies. "Government's first duty is to protect the people, not run their lives." - Ronald Reagan "Deo Duce, Ferro Comitante", With God as my leader and my sword as my companion

06-25-2012, 02:28 AM	#9
USNative V.I.P. Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Montana Posts: 373	Re: Should I get a Dog ? Man's best friend, I think they are a good thing to have around. You can't get anything much more loyal than a good dog. I love em' myself and I think you and everyone should have one. __________________ WINCHESTER....Hail To The King Baby!!! "A man has an inborn right to bear arms. Any government claiming a "right" to regulate a "right" is the definition of a tyranny !!!"

06-25-2012, 02:54 AM	#10
Zhurh Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Upper Yukon, Alaska Posts: 1,820	Re: Should I get a Dog ? We've always had outside dogs & then also a house dog. The house dog is like another kid, but keeps everything on the straight and narrow around the place, bear, rabbits, and teenage neighbor kids that always go through that stage. We couldn't never do without a hound around.

06-25-2012, 06:50 AM	#11
wv hillbilly Advanced Senior Member Join Date: May 2012 Location: mountains of wv. Posts: 2,017	Re: Should I get a Dog ? by all means get a dog please remember: all living creatures will die at some point

06-25-2012, 07:03 AM	#12
JohnHenry Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Livingston county, Michigan Posts: 1,222	Re: Should I get a Dog ? Don't get a puppy ! Adopt an older adult dog .... there must be a animal rescue somewhere in your area .... visit them and see what they have . There are several advantages to adopting , talk to the folks at the shelter about them. __________________ Freedom .... Is Never Free ! We need Term Limits .... Send the "Professional Politicians" home .

06-25-2012, 07:07 AM	#13
Iron Eagle Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Louisiana Posts: 659	Re: Should I get a Dog ? Inside dogs are not an option for me, because of allergies. We have a parakeet, and he is a lot of fun to interact with.

06-25-2012, 07:37 AM	#14
Insulation Tim Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Ohio Contributor Posts: 2,304	Re: Should I get a Dog ? We've had cats for 40 plus years....BUT they are cats. I got my first dog 2 years ago from a reputable breeder and my life got better. Are they work? Hell yes and very demanding of time. Cats are independent by nature; dogs are needy. Cats only seem to display affection only when there is an ulterior reason (food). Dogs never seem to stop displaying affection for you, no matter what. It seems as if you have laid out the pros and cons as they would affect your life. I agree with getting an older dog at a Rescue. When researching my dog, I decided that I really wanted a King Charles Cavalier. I went to all of the shelters and Rescues and was politely told that, "if someone were to drop off a King Charles, it would be adopted in 5 minutes. Bringing Charlie into my life chaged life dramatically, as did the 3 boys we were gifted with. My son who is a biologist feels that a mutt is inherently healthier than purbreeds. Either way, as was pointed out earlier, all pets die at sometime. Just as humans. Good luck. __________________ Tim *"Remember the Ark was built by amateurs....Professionals built the Titanic"*

06-25-2012, 07:40 AM	#15
bobski Former Guest Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: va., conn., & mo. Posts: 948	Re: Should I get a Dog ? animals die. they break you heart. if youre not strong enough to face it, i say no. this is why God created people to live longer. its so we dont have to experience death as often, and yet people die more often too. farmers become numb to animal death. to them, its a part of survival. but when you make an animal a pet, you get attached, and you set yourself up for hurt. after a lifetime of 400 cats, and 300 dogs...at my age, i cant take it anymore. the pain is too much. and so is the cost. just my 2 cents. Last edited by bobski; 06-25-2012 at 07:42 AM..

06-25-2012, 08:15 AM	#16
mintaka V.I.P. Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Posts: 54	Re: Should I get a Dog ? In the simplest of terms, where else can you give an ounce and get a ton in return.....they ask for so little, and in return give you a life of love and loyalty, and with all that, will gladly give their life in your protection...there is the dog and nothing else comes close...what's to think about...life is a risk,a dog is a sure thing

06-25-2012, 08:30 AM	#17
Mike1959 V.I.P. Member Join Date: May 2012 Location: Fort Worth, Texas Contributor Posts: 187	Re: Should I get a Dog ? Absolutely YES. my wife was not very dog friendly until we got a new Lab puppy. She is now head over heels in love with this dog, it is so comical. The other night she even said "I love you" to the dog befor me! __________________ Mike You've called down the thunder, well now you've got it!

06-25-2012, 10:22 AM	#19
techiej Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Posts: 7	Re: Should I get a Dog ? + on adopting from a shelter/humane society. We've gotten all of our dogs (5 over the years) this way and for a companion dog can't be beat. Also, by getting a dog out of the puppy stage you avoid the hassle of house breaking the puppy, shots and neutering. Our latest addition to the family is a 6 year old (older than what we planned on getting) blue heeler-german shepard mix. He is almost all black and intimdates strangers due to his intense stare and big white teeth. In fact they were having a hard time placing him due to his looks and that he is not a licker with regards to affection. After a few months he has turned into the best dog -- attitude, loyalty, affection, obedience -- that we've ever had. He did come with a pre-existing heart murmur but it is one that we can either spend a fortune on preventive care/monitoring or provide him with the best possible life for as long as he lives which is what we opted to do. Funny thing is that everytime we woudl visit a vet for the first time (moved a few times so changed vets) they would always id the murmur, recommend EKG's/cardiologist visits, etc. to the tune of $1,000+ which would just let us know what the exact cause was of the murmur and maybe be able to id what meds to put him on, or require major surgery. In each case when we pressed the vets what they all said was that we could just give him a good life, plenty of exercise and monitor him for any major changes and he would probably live just as long anyways!!! __________________ http://rvschooner.com

06-25-2012, 11:16 AM	#20
time2shoot Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Brandon SD Contributor Posts: 2,601	Re: Should I get a Dog ? yes. I would if i could. Two of the kids have alergies to them so we cant. __________________ I AM A VETERAN MY OATH OF ENLISTMENT HAS NO EXPIRATION DATE!

06-25-2012, 12:58 PM	#21
dad2thebone Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Posts: 1,357	Re: Should I get a Dog ? I vote on the yes side. I've lost some fantastic dogs and it hurt alot. time heals all but the memories are forever. I have a rott and a 14 year old pitt thats not doing well but i wouldnt trade a min with him. GET THE DOG! __________________ 9-11-01 we will never forget.And then we have dec 7 now it's Nov 6th all sad days for our country. And dont whizz on my leg then tell me it's raining.

06-25-2012, 02:07 PM	#22
nevadal V.I.P. Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Nevada Posts: 128	Re: Should I get a Dog ? HMMM, I do like eggs.

06-25-2012, 02:09 PM	#23
nevadal V.I.P. Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Nevada Posts: 128	Re: Should I get a Dog ? Thanks to all of you....I'm now looking into doggie doors.

06-25-2012, 03:19 PM	#24
Double D TFF Moderator/Host Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: North Florida Contributor Posts: 8,089	Re: Should I get a Dog ? Even with the pain of losing them, the years of joy and unconditional love they will bring you is so worth it, I wouldnt give it a second thought. Dogs are awesome. They will love you like no other and not ask much in return. They love you with all their heart, every day, no matter what you do or say. They worship the ground you walk on and are more loyal than most humans. Dont deprive yourself of all of that. Go get one! __________________ I own a bunch of scary guns. You want em? Come and take em..... Liberalism is a serious, non curable, mental disorder... NRA LIFE MEMBER Oath Keepers Member NRA Certified Instructor 30 Yr CC permit holder.

06-25-2012, 04:23 PM	#25
CJ_56 V.I.P. Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: SE Ohio Posts: 391	Re: Should I get a Dog ? I got an adult shelter dog and he is now a fantastic dog. I described him in a previous post (#5) so I won't do that again. I have to say it was a struggle with this dog for about 3 years before he finally became a pet and really part of the family. He had been so used to doing exactly what he wanted all the time with hundreds of other dogs to play with that he wasn't people friendly like most dogs are. At least not for a long time he wasn't. Now he's great. But I don't think I'll get another shelter dog unless it's a pup. The best dogs I've gotten as adults I got from ads in the newspaper. They have been socialized. Dogs aren't naturally born that way. If you don't spend time with a dog when it's a young pup it will grow up feral and be a really dangerous animal. I've seen that happen before. My grandmother's house had a really low crawl space under the floor. Dogs would sometimes have pups there. If we didn't crawl in there and bring out the pups they would grow up wild animals. And they were flat dangerous. I'm just saying dogs need to be socialized and shelter dogs don't always come that way. If you want to get a shelter dog I'd be very careful about it. I'd want to spend some time alone with the dog before taking it home. The dog I got actually seemed friendly but when I got him home and he immediately became extremely destructive it was a real challenge to train him. He didn't take to any discipline at all. He reacted with total fear which made further training much harder. I'm not talking about whacking him with a club. Just a harsh word was enough to illicit a fear response. Now the dog is great. But I'd suggest being prepared for a long struggle with a shelter dog to make them great pets. And if you haven't had a lot of experience with dogs I'd get one that was already part of someone's family. You'll find them in the newspaper. There are always reasons people have to give up their pets even though they really don't want to do it. I got a miniature collie like that and it was a fantastic dog. I got a Cairn Terrier that someone dropped off by my house once too. It was an incredibly good dog, the best I ever owned and that's saying a lot. BTW please NEVER drop off a dog and expect someone to take it in. 99.9% of the time a dog will starve to death in that situation.