a debate

capt_jordi

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having worked at a dog kennel for 3 years, I got to play with dogs and get my fill of squishy faced, drooly, adorableness! But now I am stuck without a dog and miss them terribly! I have had both dogs and cats my entire life! Always together! This is the first time in my life that I havent had a puppy or dog at least part of the time! (When I was younger I had dogs at my dads house but not my moms for a few years so I still got to play with mine every other weekend!)
Well after much discussion last night Gary agreed if I figured out what to do with the dog while we were at work, I could get one!
Granted he still will not agree to the Great Dane I want, but this is a huge step! I am thinking about a small mix or american eskimo or maybe an italian greyhound something that size. I dont want too small, but we dont want too big! We are open to most any breed though!
But now I am trying to decide what will be the best option!
I am looking into a daycare and having my old boss find a good one for me. He has a network of friends and rescues and daycares around our area. As well as the rescue they got their Weim from.
But I was also debating on a fenced in area for the dog to play in. We will most likely be building a garage in the next year, so once that is built we will have a dog door going out to a run so the dog can be inside the garage or out. No matter what kind of fenced in area I have there will be plenty of shelter and plenty of playthings and water and food!!
Another option I have thought of is one of the smallish storage buildings (the wooden ones that look like barns) with heating and cooling inside and then having it open into a fenced in area.
I work 3-4 days a week (one of those days tends to be a weekend day a lot, so then the dog would just be at home with Gary)
Gary works Mon-Fri. My hours vary a little later at night but I leave at 9:45 am and come home at 6 most nights. Gary leaves earlier but is usually home 5:30-6.

Any suggestions or ideas at all? Open to any advice as to a great situation!
I am really hoping to find a day care! But we would like another option as well!
 
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capt_jordi

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Also we will not be getting a puppy! Also I dont mind shedding or long hair, but I dont want to have a dog that has to be groomed every 4 weeks! I have had a shihtzu in the past and I loved that goofy dog but the trips to the groomer just werent my thing!
 

goldenkitty45

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My suggestion (since you both work) is to adopt an adult dog (1-2 yrs old) that is house trained and some basic obedience. While puppies are cute, its a lot of work to basic train and house train when both people work.

Write down your "requirements" for your ideal dog to start; that way you'll have a guide to what you really both want. Be sure whatever you choose is cat-friendly. Some breeds are NOT suitable to live with cats - JRT's are one of those breeds.

I love the JRT's but I'm not risking my cat's life to adopt one. Look at the shelters, first and maybe your local craigslist where you can check out the dog in person.

We have a Lab right now (8 yrs old) and decided that in the future, the next dog that comes in when the Lab is gone will be a parti-color miniature Poodle (I already have 1 or 2 reputable breeders to contact) - one that is a retired show female.

Good luck in finding the right one.
 
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capt_jordi

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Originally Posted by GoldenKitty45

My suggestion (since you both work) is to adopt an adult dog (1-2 yrs old) that is house trained and some basic obedience. While puppies are cute, its a lot of work to basic train and house train when both people work.

Write down your "requirements" for your ideal dog to start; that way you'll have a guide to what you really both want. Be sure whatever you choose is cat-friendly. Some breeds are NOT suitable to live with cats - JRT's are one of those breeds.

I love the JRT's but I'm not risking my cat's life to adopt one. Look at the shelters, first and maybe your local craigslist where you can check out the dog in person.

We have a Lab right now (8 yrs old) and decided that in the future, the next dog that comes in when the Lab is gone will be a parti-color miniature Poodle (I already have 1 or 2 reputable breeders to contact) - one that is a retired show female.

Good luck in finding the right one.
Oh yes unless I find a job that I work from home always there will not be a puppy in my life! At least not anytime soon! LOL!

Hehe Gary is pretty clueless when it comes to dogs. He has only ever had one and that was a basset. And while I love them I dont think I want one right now!
As for breeds I have a pretty long list of breeds I dont think iw ould ever own! And JRT's are on the top of that list... most likely along with beagles! Although there was one beagle that we had at camp that I absolutely adored! She was a mix though and I have a feeling the only one of her kind!

Aww I love labbies, but only after they are 4 or so! My mom used to breed poodles a long time ago!

I think right now I am aiming small-medium. I want something I can take running and walking, but can still easily go anywhere with me. I have been on petfinder all morning looking at dogs!
I havent found the one that jumps out at me yet! But I am keeping my eyes open! I probably shouldnt go to the pound just to look.... I would try to rescue them all!
 

goldenkitty45

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That is why you need to write up a basic list so you will not be overwhelmed and want to take everyone home. When we got the Lab, we wanted a light color dog, short hair, female, obedience and potty trained.

So that eliminated all male dogs, all dark color dogs and all long hair dogs
 

danewillow

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The only problem with the dog door with access to outside is you have no idea what your dog is doing or what is happening to it while you're gone. It could be barking all day, angering your neighbors. It could be stolen, poisoned, shot, abused, tormented.

I'd still try for the Dane but I'm biased.
 

Willowy

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If you were to attempt to kennel the dog outdoors while you're gone, I'd go with a smaller, well-secured, roofed kennel attached to a building, preferably inside a fenced yard. This would afford the most security for your dog. I would not recommend giving a dog free run of the entire backyard all day unsupervised. Too many things could happen. Of course, if your dog barks while you're out, even the most well-secured kennel won't help! So if you do try it, have a plan B in case your dog just doesn't do well outside.
 
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capt_jordi

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Originally Posted by danewillow

The only problem with the dog door with access to outside is you have no idea what your dog is doing or what is happening to it while you're gone. It could be barking all day, angering your neighbors. It could be stolen, poisoned, shot, abused, tormented.

I'd still try for the Dane but I'm biased.
DAWWWWWW! I wish I could talk him into a dane! I was actually contacted by a local rescue to see if I could foster a 7 year old European guy. But he wouldnt go for it
I've had 4 danes and my grandmother had 1! I love them!
If we do the dog door it will only be out into its own run and we live in a very very dog friendly neighborhood! All of our neighbors around us have at least one dog!

Originally Posted by Willowy

If you were to attempt to kennel the dog outdoors while you're gone, I'd go with a smaller, well-secured, roofed kennel attached to a building, preferably inside a fenced yard. This would afford the most security for your dog. I would not recommend giving a dog free run of the entire backyard all day unsupervised. Too many things could happen. Of course, if your dog barks while you're out, even the most well-secured kennel won't help! So if you do try it, have a plan B in case your dog just doesn't do well outside.
Thats kind of what I am thinking. I found a 16x10x6 one on CL with a roof. And yeah he wouldnt be having the full run of the yard!
I am really hoping most days he can go to daycare! I have found one on my way to work that will be a little out of the way but not too bad! Its new, the price is right, and they are open until 7!

Originally Posted by WellingtonCats

Ed is sooooooooooo cute!
I know! I am so in love with him! And he is from a rescue that ALWAYS tests with cats and will let you know up front if he is bad with them!
 

arlyn

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My only advice is to avoid getting an IG or similar courser.
They have no body fat, and fit tight in their skin, one cat scratch can lead to skin tearing.
 
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capt_jordi

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Originally Posted by GoldenKitty45

Agree that Ed is cute, but I don't see where he's cat friendly - check that out first!
Sorry that was on the other website! He is, but he is pending an adoption now
how sad!
 

katiemae1277

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I'm trying to think of dogs but every one I think of requires regular grooming
Lhasa? no... Schnauzer? no... Westie? no
Maybe do a search of non-sporting dogs? those would probably be the most likely to be cat friendly.... altho not the best for jogging partners
honestly, to go jogging for any reasonable amount of time, a medium to large dog would probably be better, smaller dogs can get tired walking around the block


My parents have a JRT they adopted at about 2 years of age and she has never hurt one of their cats... but she is very annoying
 

goldenkitty45

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You're lucky with the JRT - this was posted to our Labrador board by a JRT owner who also had cats. This is why I'd never trust them.

The owner had 3 cats, the JRT was a puppy when he came into the household and grew up with the cats. No problems for several years. Then one day she came home to find one dead adult cat and the 2nd one in the jaws of the dog being shaken to death. She managed to rescue the cat, got it to the vet's and it lived.

But she warned to NEVER allow a JRT to be alone with the cats - crate the dog or only allow them together under supervision. She has no idea what triggered the dog to attack the cats and kill one and almost kill the 2nd one!

I just would not take the chance of coming home to a dead cat.
 

katiemae1277

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I honestly think that is a possibility with any dog that was bred to hunt small game, which is most dogs. Wishbone (yes, that's her name
) has lived with cats for the last 14+ years and never showed any aggression. You can't lump all JRTs as cat killers... that's no better than saying all pits are man-killers
 

goldenkitty45

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I realize that, but why take the chance when you know the temperament of the breeds and some breeds are more at risk for certain traits. JRTs, Huskies, and some others have a higher percent chance of doing cats harm.

Yes there are exceptions, but I'm not risking my cat's life. I'd just as soon play it safe then sorry!
 

Willowy

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Personally, I wouldn't leave any dog alone with cats. Animals are unpredictable. My dogs stay in the mudroom when I'm out. They love the cats, and I don't think they'd hurt them, but you never know what will set them (dogs OR cats) off.
 

cococat

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I would take the dog to doggie daycare, hire or know someone to come in during the middle of the day, take your dog to work, or other arrangements, I would not leave your dog alone outside in a yard with access to a garage. I would also wait for your dream dog...if at all possible. An older rescued Great Dane sounds lovely.
 
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