Since Paul has decided that he doesn't want any more dying cats, we have decided on a dog. Not sure how Nuts will react to this, I know he has a healthy fear of dogs, but I'm not sure if it goes beyond healthy. Attitude was terrified of dogs(but she fell behind Mitzi's fence before she was 8 weeks old and had 2 very cat aggressive dogs try to eat her after Mitzi let them out and we discovered Attitude was behind her fence, she was unharmed physically she got into a spot that the dogs couldn't reach, but would start shaking anytime she saw a dog.) Nuts walked behind the fence at the dogs but quickly ran back out. He hasn't been to the vet(enough to gage a reaction to dogs, his last appointment which was his yearly was Dec 28 my pets do go to the vet when they need to) or out enough for me to know how exactly he feels about dogs.
It will be a small dog 20 lbs or under and we are going to try to find one that already has a proven track record with cats and is either friendly or even better, ignores cats. It also has to be good with children as Bobby is 8. We are looking for an already housebroken dog that is either an adult(preferably) or possibly an older, as in almost adult, puppy. I'm not willing to deal with a puppy and I'm certainly not dealing with trying to housebreak a dog. Fur doesn't really matter, I'd prefer to not get a dog that requires grooming(my last dog was an Old English Sheepdog, need I say more) but if one that does picks us then so be it, Mitzi is a groomer and I know she does great work and loves dogs so if I need a groomer I have one. We're going to let the dog choose us and then find out if we have an appropriate match. Obviously if we have major issues that involve any animal(Nuts) or human(Bobby) safety the dog won't be staying. I can deal with a dominating dog(I raised a sheepdog who did try to 'challenge' my place in the pack once she reached her own adolescence around 12- 18 months old(I was 16 or 17), she quickly learned through gentle dog language(light muzzle holding and me 'laying' across her side, she was 80 lbs I wasn't going to hurt her) she was below me in the pack and that wasn't going to change, and she was a very happy well adjusted dog) and so can Paul(he raised a very friendly doberman) but I'm not going to risk the safety of my kid or Nuts. If it doesn't work out it doesn't work out. I'm being realistic, any animal I have will be mine for life unless they do something that threatens the life or safety of other animals or people that I consider important.
OK, dog foods. What should I use? Obviously I have to make the change slowly so in the beginning he or she will eat whatever they were fed at the shelter or rescue but I will want to get the dog on a better diet as soon as possible, taking it slowly of course, a cat with the runs has a better chance of not having an accident than a dog so no thanks and cleaning up barf is not my idea of a good time.
We are starting to really look tomorrow so I'll keep y'all updated on our search for a dog. Also, yes we have the money and this dog will be insured unless it has something pre existing(Attitude darn near broke me in vet bills.)
Taryn
It will be a small dog 20 lbs or under and we are going to try to find one that already has a proven track record with cats and is either friendly or even better, ignores cats. It also has to be good with children as Bobby is 8. We are looking for an already housebroken dog that is either an adult(preferably) or possibly an older, as in almost adult, puppy. I'm not willing to deal with a puppy and I'm certainly not dealing with trying to housebreak a dog. Fur doesn't really matter, I'd prefer to not get a dog that requires grooming(my last dog was an Old English Sheepdog, need I say more) but if one that does picks us then so be it, Mitzi is a groomer and I know she does great work and loves dogs so if I need a groomer I have one. We're going to let the dog choose us and then find out if we have an appropriate match. Obviously if we have major issues that involve any animal(Nuts) or human(Bobby) safety the dog won't be staying. I can deal with a dominating dog(I raised a sheepdog who did try to 'challenge' my place in the pack once she reached her own adolescence around 12- 18 months old(I was 16 or 17), she quickly learned through gentle dog language(light muzzle holding and me 'laying' across her side, she was 80 lbs I wasn't going to hurt her) she was below me in the pack and that wasn't going to change, and she was a very happy well adjusted dog) and so can Paul(he raised a very friendly doberman) but I'm not going to risk the safety of my kid or Nuts. If it doesn't work out it doesn't work out. I'm being realistic, any animal I have will be mine for life unless they do something that threatens the life or safety of other animals or people that I consider important.
OK, dog foods. What should I use? Obviously I have to make the change slowly so in the beginning he or she will eat whatever they were fed at the shelter or rescue but I will want to get the dog on a better diet as soon as possible, taking it slowly of course, a cat with the runs has a better chance of not having an accident than a dog so no thanks and cleaning up barf is not my idea of a good time.
We are starting to really look tomorrow so I'll keep y'all updated on our search for a dog. Also, yes we have the money and this dog will be insured unless it has something pre existing(Attitude darn near broke me in vet bills.)
Taryn