Any Doggie Owners Out there?

DaveandRoxy · October 2012

Anybody out there have a doggie? I want a dog

But I'm afraid with a full time job and all this wedding planning I won't have time for one. Plus, we'll be gone over a week for the honeymoon. That's not very fair for the dog. I like running and I always see people around my neighborhood running with their dogs. Makes me a so jealous. I want a dog to run with. Anyhow, what kind of dog do you have? Whats it's name? And how do you find the time?

QueerFemme · October 2012

I have two dogs and frequently have foster dogs. They are work. Anyone who tells you otherwise, is full of crap. If you get a puppy, there WILL be a training and adjustment period.   It will pee on the floor, it may chew a pair of your favorite shoes.

BUT, if you properly train them and really spend the time with the pooch initially to socialize it correctly, the initial training and adjustment period can be minimal.

Now, I walk my dogs in the evenings, but during the day, they have the run of the house and come and go as they please through the dog door. I had a dog walker for my boxer who passed away a few years ago, but Sancho, my current rottweiler, intimidates a lot of walkers, and when people are intimidated by him, he doesn't trust them.   So, they run and play and goof off together all day long, and we walk in the evenings and/or on weekends. Sometimes, I just sit in the backyard and toss a ball for them when I am not up for walking them at night.

Going out of town IS a pain in the ass and sometimes expensive. If you kennel them, it costs money. I have someone stay at my house while we are out of town, because I don't like messing up the dogs' routines.   Usually a friend or a friend of a friend that I pay to stay there, but sometimes, professional pet sitters.

It is a lot to think about... and it is a responsibility. My suggestion, do your breed research, and make sure you choose a breed that matches your lifestyle.

here are my babies. Sancho (the rottie) and Hector (the pitbull/dalmation mix)

This is my partner and the boys

and this is Sancho when we first got him at 8 weeks old...

Edited to add more pictures... cuz, I can't share enough pictures of my wedding OR my dogs.

mcda04 · October 2012

I have two. They're both Boxers. My baby is the male and i love all 101 lbs of him. His name is DJ, he's 4 years old. The female loves hubby her name is Roxy and she's 3. Boxers are VERY active dogs so training was a little difficult with two children and a husband but we make it happen. they spend the entire evening with us when we get home from work and my dad who lives with me watches them during the day. We we were in Hawaii last week, my BIL and his GF came over to house and dog sit since my dad is in a wheelchair and it could be difficult to do the dog tasks we do in the evenings, e.g. walking, picking up poo, brushing, feeding etc.

We have show dogs but just don't have the time to keep up with the whole pedigree world.

samantha24p · October 2012

I have 2 dogs. A 2 1/2 year old male Pekingese who's allergic to everything and a 1 year old female cavalier King Charles who gets into everything. I wouldn't trade them for the world but they are a lot of work and very expensive.

cnf2013 · October 2012

We have a 14 month old lab. It worked out well because when we got him last year I was unemployed, so I was home all day with him for the first few months. FI just started to run with him this week. He's pretty bad on a leash, but is doing well running.

MrsGandthebeag · October 2012

We have a 2.5 year old beagle. He's great, but a lot of work. When we first got him we took him to puppy class. We also had a dog walker come twice a day to let him out. Then we were able to have the dog walker come once a day. Now we take him for two walks a day almost every day. The only days we don't walk him is when he goes to doggie day care. Dogs are also very expensive. If you get one, I'd suggest pet insurance. Thank god we have it as our dog ate a rock and had to have surgery. Here's a pic of the cutie:

staar987 · October 2012

OMG cmgilpin both of your dogs are adorable!!!! All the dogs are, but I have a place in my heart for big dogs!
MrsG: does your beagle bark alot? I've thought about getting one when we move, but I've heard that they are big barkers.

OP: Dogs are a lot of work. Do a lot of breed research to find the perfect breed for your lifestyle and environment. I have a 5 1/2 year old golden retriever that lives with my mom since I'm not aloud pets in my apartment. (Plus we got him together when I lived there.) We took him to puppy classes, training classes, flyball classes, and agility classes. That is in addition to 2 walks a day. During the week those walks are each an hour long. On weekends, they are longer.

I love my dog dearly, but there was major adjustment period at the beginning. And there are still days when he isn't the best behaved dog ever. He still has problems pulling on leash even with all those walks, especially if we are in a new area.

Toby as a puppy

And a more recent picture

bridalmarch · October 2012

I adopted a pit bull who was a former bait dog in a fighting ring when I got my own apartment a few years after college. Her name is Maisy. She's missing most of her nose, her ear has a BB permanently lodged in it, her face is scarred, her teeth are filed, and she was bred several times before she should have been.

She's the absolute sweetest, most loving, most loyal dog in the world. At first, things were difficult. She hated toys that made noise, she didn't really know how to play, she had a lot of strange quirks. It took a lot of one on one time and now she's 99% normal. She loves squeaky toys and the dog park. Her only quirks are a fear of men wearing hats, half closed doors, anything covering her head or mouth (the general thought is that the people who ran her ring taped her mouth shut before baiting her. She has some permanent hair loss around her muzzle in a pattern that indicates tape being ripped off ), and for some reason she's terrified of Frisbees.

We have a busy almost 16 month old daughter who sits on her, pokes, pulls, prods, swats, pinches, and licks the dog. Maisy freaking loves it. She loves kids....she pretty much loves everyone.

Edit for pics:

With our daughter when she was an itty bitty

With our daughter for our e-pics

and by herself at our e pics

cwaggoner07 · October 2012

We got a border collie/ terrier mix puppy almost 3 years ago, and it was SO much work to train him. We went to obedience school weekly for a YEAR. And the vet said until he was 1 year old he couldn't run over 5 miles. Definitely talk to your vet before running with him. Because we live in TX, the vet also recommended not running in over 80 degrees.

It even took a lot of work to train him to run, and we still have trouble time to time. It's a huge commitment, but I will say that it's gotten us to somewhat expect with a kid. Just in terms of changing your life/schedule completely and being responsible for something even when you don't want to (vacation).

Like PP said, definitely socialize as soon as you can. Ours is greatly socialized, and when we do go out of town and drop him off to be boarded, he's so excited. But I've seen dogs in there that are TERRIFIED of leaving their owners and I'm so glad my dog enjoys it.

Obligatory dog picture:

bethie0022 · October 2012

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_chit-chat_any-doggie-owners-out-there?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:14Discussion:89cfe49e-4996-43c2-846e-7dc133e59796Post:fb0537cc-b5cc-4adb-860d-b1cc7221b04c">Re: Any Doggie Owners Out there?</a>:
[QUOTE]I have two. They're both Boxers. My baby is the male and i love all 101 lbs of him. His name is DJ, he's 4 years old. The female loves hubby her name is Roxy and she's 3. Boxers are VERY active dogs so training was a little difficult with two children and a husband but we make it happen. they spend the entire evening with us when we get home from work and my dad who lives with me watches them during the day. We we were in Hawaii last week, my BIL and his GF came over to house and dog sit since my dad is in a wheelchair and it could be difficult to do the dog tasks we do in the evenings, e.g. walking, picking up poo, brushing, feeding etc. We have show dogs but just don't have the time to keep up with the whole pedigree world. :)
Posted by mcda04[/QUOTE]

We have a 3 year old Boxer mix, and her name is Roxy too! Never thought I would ever come across that name let alone the same breed! Awesome!

amymaysa · October 2012

We have a 2.5 year old hound lab mix we rescued. She is currently in a phase of wanting to bark and play outside at 9:30pm, so that's fun!

Like others have said, she's been a lot of work. She was abused or something before we got her (3 months) and has wicked anxiety. It's SO much better than it was, but she's scared of almost all our friends (hides when they come over), barks at people walking by the house, wouldn't leave the yard for a while when we first got her.

She's out of the crate now, but when she was, would bark the entire time we were gone.

She goes to doggie day care during the day, something we agreed upon before we even got her.

Going out of town is expensive, my parents don't live close, so if we need to go somewhere and can't bring her, we board her.

We did classes with her for a while and they helped all of us!

KellyBrian2013 · October 2012

I brought my 3 Pugs when DH and I moved in together after getting engaged... I actually have 3 generations. Chelsea (2 years old), her mom Crickett (7 years old), and Crickett's dad Pepper (10.5 years old).

Crickett & Pepper

Annnd our goofball Chelsea

I grew up with dogs (showing and breeding), so managing 3 while being in school FT isn't that difficult for me BUT it was pretty overwhelming for H at first. Sometimes, I think it still is. Pepper is gated in the kitchen whenever we're not home, and the two girls are crated. When we're home, they're running loose in the house with us or, if it's nice out (and they aren't barking) we have a fenced yard that they can hang out outdoors.

Pugs don't have a whole lot of energy requirements, so we're lucky there. I take them for a walk maybe once per week, otherwise we just play in the yard or house. I do take Chelsea to an obedience class for an hour or two per week because she's the busiest of the three and she needs something to engage her brain. But otherwise, they're perfectly content being couch potatoes.

lls31 · October 2012

We have a 4 year old yorkie poo. He's a whopping 6 lbs and I love him to death. PPs are right - dogs are a lot of work.

When we first got him, I took a few days off of work and FI took a few days off of work - just so we could stay home with him and get him acclimated and work on basic training. We were lucky that we got such a good dog. He was so easy to train and he wasn't a chewer. However, he grew very attached to us very quickly.

If we're up and walking around the house, he follows us wherever we go. If we're sitting down, he has to be on one of our laps. If one of us leaves the house, he cries for a good 30 minutes. We tried to break him of this attachment and it only worked temporarily.

About 2 years ago, I lost my job and I was home with him for a few months. When I went back to work, he developed severe separation anxiety. Our neighbors told us that he cried and howled all. day. long. We decided to video tape him one day. He literally paced back and forth and cried/howled all day. It was heartbreaking. So now FI drops him off at my parents' house every morning before work and my retired dad keeps him company (and vice versa!). It's kind of a pain.

He also has a skin rash that comes and goes and the vet has not been able to determine the cause. So we have him on a special diet, special treats, and prescription shampoo.

As much work as he can be sometimes, I don't regret getting him for a second. He is the most loving dog and I am beyond happy that he came into our lives. Good luck with whatever you decide!

Benny618 · October 2012

I have a 2 year old yorki-poo named Benny. I LOVE having a dog, but it's definitely a lot of work and responsibility... and can be a big expense! I totally encourage you to get one if you want one, I would just make sure you are comfortable with how a dog will change your life (positives and negatives, but I'd say the positives outweight the negs).

A few things to consider off the top of my head...

If you get a long haired dog like Benny is, he will need to go to the groomer pretty often. That can add up ($80 each time in NYC!)

Vet visits can be very expensive. I found a company called Luvmypet.com that comes to my local Petco's a few times a month on the weekends. I bring Benny there to get his vaccinations because it's MUCH cheaper than a vet visit. I'd suggest looking into that and vet costs in general for your area.

Good luck!!!!

This is Benny:

vjarman · October 2012

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_chit-chat_any-doggie-owners-out-there?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:14Discussion:89cfe49e-4996-43c2-846e-7dc133e59796Post:4cefe1a2-3ba0-4b9d-84d9-0c8db1b83047">Re: Any Doggie Owners Out there?</a>:
[QUOTE]I brought my 3 Pugs when DH and I moved in together after getting engaged... I actually have 3 generations. Chelsea (2 years old), her mom Crickett (7 years old), and Crickett's dad Pepper (10.5 years old). Crickett & Pepper Annnd our goofball Chelsea I grew up with dogs (showing and breeding), so managing 3 while being in school FT isn't that difficult for me BUT it was pretty overwhelming for H at first. Sometimes, I think it still is. Pepper is gated in the kitchen whenever we're not home, and the two girls are crated. When we're home, they're running loose in the house with us or, if it's nice out (and they aren't barking) we have a fenced yard that they can hang out outdoors. Pugs don't have a whole lot of energy requirements, so we're lucky there. I take them for a walk maybe once per week, otherwise we just play in the yard or house. I do take Chelsea to an obedience class for an hour or two per week because she's the busiest of the three and she needs something to engage her brain. But otherwise, they're perfectly content being couch potatoes.
Posted by KellyBrian2013[/QUOTE]

I have Pugs too! I have a 5 year old Pug named Ruthie she's an amazing dog! And i have a 10month old Jug (jack russel and pug) named Brecking! Between them and my kids i definiatly stay busy. Ruthie is a generally laid back pug and likes to snuggle, she has her moments with her bursts of energy. She has a Tyroid problem so she's on medicine but since shes started her medicine she has sooo much more energy! Breckin is my Jug and he's got a fantastic mix of Jack Russle and Pug, he's got the energy of a Jack Russel when it comes to playing with the kids and other dogs but when it comes to being with me he loves to just snuggle. He lays on the back of the couch and wraps around your neck! He's my love bug. I also baby sit a dog, her name is Pearl and she's a great Pyrnees she's 70lbs and only half grown! She's a sweet heart as well!

I'm currently a stay at home Mom so I have the pleasure of staying with my dogs all day! I'm very lucky. Dogs are great but it's not a great idea to get one unless you have the time to put in with them. They need alot of attention and love =)

Mr. Breckin
<a href="http://cdn.cl9.vanillaforums.com/downloaded/ver1.0/content/images/store/1/14/01866777-87c6-4fa2-9ee7-5ea0331cbfc3.large.jpg" title="Click to view a larger photo" class="PhotoLink"> <img src="http://cdn.cl9.vanillaforums.com/downloaded/ver1.0/content/images/store/1/14/01866777-87c6-4fa2-9ee7-5ea0331cbfc3.medium.jpg" alt="" /></a>

Miss Ruthie

<a href="http://cdn.cl9.vanillaforums.com/downloaded/ver1.0/content/images/store/6/14/5678b42d-2d2a-4211-ae8f-eb53655cc4c0.large.jpg" title="Click to view a larger photo" class="PhotoLink"> <img src="http://cdn.cl9.vanillaforums.com/downloaded/ver1.0/content/images/store/6/14/5678b42d-2d2a-4211-ae8f-eb53655cc4c0.medium.jpg" alt="" /></a>

Miss Pearl the puppy I baby Sit :)
<a href="http://cdn.cl9.vanillaforums.com/downloaded/ver1.0/content/images/store/10/0/0affc824-7b97-44da-904b-f6371a36f396.large.jpg" title="Click to view a larger photo" class="PhotoLink"> <img src="http://cdn.cl9.vanillaforums.com/downloaded/ver1.0/content/images/store/10/0/0affc824-7b97-44da-904b-f6371a36f396.medium.jpg" alt="" /></a>

DaveandRoxy · October 2012

Awwwww. All these pix and stories made me smile! That's so awesome and kudos to all those "rescue" parents! Yea, it seems like I really just don't have enough time to devote to training, walking and playing. I'm not even sure what kind of dog I want. Right now I'm just walking the pups at the shelter on the weekends. That way I get to interact with the dogs without having one. But it makes me sad I can't take them home

Oh well, wedding's not that far off. I can be patient to do it the right way. Thanks for sharing everyone! Love the pix

vjarman · October 2012

After you get married and life settles down a litlte bit it'd be fantastic to get a dog! Exspecially if your going to have a child, when we get our next dog I want it to be around the time our furutre child is about 1 so him/her can grow with the Chocolate lab puppy and they'll have a great bond. It normally makes them very protective

Breckin is protective (even though he's only 12lbs) when the kids play in our fenced in back yard he make sure no one comes near

lyndausvi · October 2012

We have an almost 1 year old English Bulldog (turns 1 on 11/5).     While I love him to death and can't imagine my life without him, they are a lot of work. Especially if you get them as a puppy.

Really research breeds. EB are known to have health problems, lucky for us that so far has not been the case.  EB are need and very stubborn. They need to be around people or other dogs. Chef will follow you all over the place. He will be in a full blown nap, but if you get up to go to the bathroom, he follows you right in.

They are also known to be good apartment dogs because they do not require a lot of exercise.  However, we have not found that to be the case with our EB. He LOVES to run/walk. I take him on a couple of mile long walks a day (only when the temp is under 85). We have to take him to day care once a week and the dog park a 1-3 times a week.   If not he is just a PITA.   If I dont' have time to go to the park, I through balls down our hallway for him. Happy to say our new neighbors don't mind.

Oh and on walks he is such the little actor.   He just lags behind like he is tired or something. Or worse yet, if you are not going in the direction he wants, he just STOPS. Sometimes even going down on all 4's. Don't let him fool you. He is just trying to getting attention. And he does. People are always coming up to him "aww, poor baby, he's tired", then come over to pet him.   Yep, just what he wanted. I'm sure he is saying to himself "suckers".

I'm lucky enough to work a block from home, so most days I come home in the middle of the day to take him out.   He's had full regin of the house for a few months now.

Potty training has been are biggest challenge for a couple of reasons. One is we live in a high-rise.  It's not easy taking a puppy out every hour or 2 when you are 9 flights up and the nearest grassy area is a block away.

Another reason is DH and I are not on the same page. That is a big one. DH is completely fine with him using pee pads. I was not.   Finally, we are at a the point where most of his bathroom breaks are outside and a few are on the pads.   Our challenge is first thing in the morning. He can go from 8pm until 6-7am without waking up.   Most days I wake up, do my thing, then wake him up and take him out   But other days he wakes up with me and can't hold it, so he will go on the pee pad. Then he waits for me to take him out to poop.   It's not ideal, but it's getting better.   Again if we didn't live 9 floors up it would be easier. I have to put on a bra, sweats, jacket, shoes, leash, walk to the elevator, blah, blah. I can't reall blame him, I'm not sure I could hold it that long either after waking up.

QueerFemme · October 2012

OP - Maybe you can try fostering for a while, see if you can figure out a way to fit it into your life. If you get involved with some rescues, you can volunteer and do short term fostering. I have had hundreds of foster dogs over the past 20 years... sometimes for a few days, sometimes for a month or two. It's also a nice way to learn about the behaviors of different breeds.

danielleper03 · October 2012

I've got a 5 year old lab. I got him from a friend for christmas when he was barely 6 weeks old. I went through 3 total relationships with him and a period of time being single in a place with no friends. I work and go to school full time. It took a lot of work, a lot of understanding his quirks. He's so good for me most of the time (98% of the time) and he's so sweet.

My FI has never been around dogs in his life before me and so Louis drives him up the wall most days but they do okay. Luckily FI knows how important Lou is to me and doesn't let the irritations get to him too much. I'll edit this to include a picture later.

mcda04 · October 2012

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_chit-chat_any-doggie-owners-out-there?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:14Discussion:89cfe49e-4996-43c2-846e-7dc133e59796Post:2dd82fe3-62c0-46e8-a50d-fb582358010a">Re: Any Doggie Owners Out there?</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: Any Doggie Owners Out there? : We have a 3 year old Boxer mix, and her name is Roxy too! Never thought I would ever come across that name let alone the same breed! Awesome!
Posted by bethie0022[/QUOTE]
OMG. That's so cool. :) Aren's Boxers just awesome?

Nice name. lol. Do you have pictures of your's? I am having issues uploading.

QueerFemme · October 2012

Just for the record.... I am jealous of the boxer owners. I lost my boxer Darcy 4 years ago, and my other boxer Ellie this past January. Both from brain tumors. I am threatening to get another one... but, three huge dogs was definately a lot to handle. I am still thinking about it though.

mcda04 · October 2012

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_chit-chat_any-doggie-owners-out-there?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:14Discussion:89cfe49e-4996-43c2-846e-7dc133e59796Post:64b13efd-e844-4174-84b3-2c06f0f6dd9b">Re: Any Doggie Owners Out there?</a>:
[QUOTE]Just for the record.... I am jealous of the boxer owners. I lost my boxer Darcy 4 years ago, and my other boxer Ellie this past January. Both from brain tumors. I am threatening to get another one... but, three huge dogs was definately a lot to handle. I am still thinking about it though.
Posted by cmgilpin[/QUOTE]
Awwww. I'm so sorry for your loss. :( They really are amazing.
I bought mine after my Doberman died 5 years ago. buying another Dobie was just gonna make it worse so H started researching breeds and thought a boxer would be a good fit since we had two small children and their personality would really help me overcome the loss of my furry friend. He's now 4 years old and i just can't imagine not having him.

Omg, More power to you. i have two and i don't think i could handle a 3rd. lol.

QueerFemme · October 2012

well, we had three before Ellie died in January. We adopted Hector (the pittie/dalmation mix) in June of 2011, and Ellie died in January of 2012. I Three was a lot of work... but, I miss that lil smushed face so much.

I really feel like I will always need a rottweiler and a boxer in my life.

christina911 · October 2012

This is my baby boy Tucker! He is our 2.5 year old Lab mix. We got him from a rescue after we just went to "look" and little man here kept jumping into my arms. They say the dog picks the owner! Fi said no, which left me crying in the parking lot, until he told me that we would go back next weekend and if he was still there we'd get him

He has been with us ever since. He has such personality, I remember when we got him he was petrified of doors, and walking through them but once we got through that he is the sweetest most happy guy in the world. Loves kids, TENNIS BALLS!, and food, lol. They are like having children, constant work and defintiely life changing, but imo, soooo worth it.

SB1512 · October 2012

FI and I have an 8 month old puppy who we got at 3 months old in May. Puppies are a lot of work, but totally worth it in my opinion. Ours is a part Jack Russell and part mini poodle names Ozzy. We really lucked out b/c Jack Russells can be really hyper, hard to handle dogs. While Ozzy does have a lot of energy he is also very submissive by nature so we never really went through the stage where the dog tries to move up the ladder within his pack. We started puppy training about 2wks after we got him, which was worth it and definitely helps define early on who is boss. The first couple weeks were rough, dealing with potty training and all, but we got him when I was unemployed/out of school for the summer so I had a lot of time to work with him on training. We also used a crate, which I highly recommend. Ozzy no longer sleeps in it at night, but he does go in there when FI and I will both be out of the house. However, we never leave him crated for more than 7 hours......if he's going to be alone longer than that we usually bring him to daycare. He also gets a long walk everynight, rain, cold or nice outside. The only time his walk has ever gotten skipped was when we had a really bad rain/wind/thunderstorm and he didn't even want to venture outside. We are working on figuring out a way for him to have the run of a room or part of the house, but since our condo is on the market we are a little fearful of him getting bored and chewing on cabinets or something.

I think my biggest piece of advice is this. If you have the opportunity to meet potential dogs or puppies (we did not meet Ozzy, we picked him out on petfinder and he came up from TN) spend time interacting with the ones you like and observe them with other dogs. A dog who is more dominant with other dogs will treat you the same way. If you get a dog that is more dominant you will have to learn to speak firmly and establish early on you are the boss. This can be difficult with a puppy because ohmygosh he or she is so cute and how could you reprimand it. Dogs that tend to voluntarily roll on their backs while playing with you or another dog will be more submissive. this doesn't mean that you don't need to establish who is boss early on because you will, but there is a good chance a submissive dog wont' try to challenge you as much as a dominant dog will.

samantha24p · October 2012

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_chit-chat_any-doggie-owners-out-there?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:14Discussion:89cfe49e-4996-43c2-846e-7dc133e59796Post:eb4b2a4c-326d-4f29-8820-255f48f04e7d">Re: Any Doggie Owners Out there?</a>:
[QUOTE]OP - Maybe you can try fostering for a while, see if you can figure out a way to fit it into your life. If you get involved with some rescues, you can volunteer and do short term fostering. I have had hundreds of foster dogs over the past 20 years... sometimes for a few days, sometimes for a month or two. It's also a nice way to learn about the behaviors of different breeds.
Posted by cmgilpin[/QUOTE]

That's how I ended up with my cat. I was asked to foster a feral kitten, and my cavalier fell I love with him. Needless to say he's the sweetest thing now, and you'd never know how feral he was when we first took him on. I ended up adopting him. I don't think he realizes he's a cat though, because he plays with the dogs and acts like them.

My 15 year old cat doesn't love him though....

KellyBrian2013 · October 2012

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_chit-chat_any-doggie-owners-out-there?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:14Discussion:89cfe49e-4996-43c2-846e-7dc133e59796Post:90ef2393-3af7-4c71-9e61-1d6ce59c4327">Re: Any Doggie Owners Out there?</a>:
[QUOTE]I think my biggest piece of advice is this. If you have the opportunity to meet potential dogs or puppies (we did not meet Ozzy, we picked him out on petfinder and he came up from TN) spend time interacting with the ones you like and observe them with other dogs. A dog who is more dominant with other dogs will treat you the same way. If you get a dog that is more dominant you will have to learn to speak firmly and establish early on you are the boss. This can be difficult with a puppy because ohmygosh he or she is so cute and how could you reprimand it. Dogs that tend to voluntarily roll on their backs while playing with you or another dog will be more submissive. this doesn't mean that you don't need to establish who is boss early on because you will, but there is a good chance a submissive dog wont' try to challenge you as much as a dominant dog will.
Posted by SB1512[/QUOTE]

While I agree it is always in the best interest of both the people and the dog to meet prior to going home (whether it be from a breeder or a shelter/rescue), I don't agree with the bolded. Dog interactions with humans are completely different than those with other dogs. AND, depending on the environment that the dog is coming from, observing their interactions with other dogs is not going to be anywhere near accurate. Keep in mind that shelters are often loud, busy environments with 50-100+ dogs. A dog is going to act very differently in a concrete run with 75 dogs barking in the background than he will in a home with 2 people and a cat.

Additionally, the dog that is "submissive" to others, willingly rolling on their back with regularity is often the dog that is going to have the most confidence issues; they are the dogs that are afraid of people, afraid of new environments, etc. and often take the most time, patience, and work.

Also, the idea of being "boss" or "dominant" over your puppy is outdated and based on other studies of wolf behavior that we now know are both wrong (ie. the behaviors don't work the way we thought they did in wolves) and are wrongfully applied to dogs (wolf and dog behavior is similar, but has great distinctions). You absolutely must establish rules, but that is with any dog, regardless of tenacity or dominance. My older girl and my boy are both alphas. When I lived at my mom's house, they ran the roost on her dogs and they clearly are in charge when it comes to the 2 year old in the house. Not once have they ever "challenged" me. And why should they? I am not a dog. I am not part of their "pack". We have a family unit, yes, but dogs don't generally establish packs or a pack mentality in interactions with humans.

SB1512 · October 2012

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_chit-chat_any-doggie-owners-out-there?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:14Discussion:89cfe49e-4996-43c2-846e-7dc133e59796Post:bb5aa38f-783d-46b2-88f2-c0ff91bdc537">Re: Any Doggie Owners Out there?</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: Any Doggie Owners Out there? : While I agree it is always in the best interest of both the people and the dog to meet prior to going home (whether it be from a breeder or a shelter/rescue), I don't agree with the bolded. Dog interactions with humans are completely different than those with other dogs. AND, depending on the environment that the dog is coming from, observing their interactions with other dogs is not going to be anywhere near accurate. Keep in mind that shelters are often loud, busy environments with 50-100+ dogs. A dog is going to act very differently in a concrete run with 75 dogs barking in the background than he will in a home with 2 people and a cat. Additionally, the dog that is "submissive" to others, willingly rolling on their back with regularity is often the dog that is going to have the most confidence issues; they are the dogs that are afraid of people, afraid of new environments, etc. and often take the most time, patience, and work. Also, the idea of being "boss" or "dominant" over your puppy is outdated and based on other studies of wolf behavior that we now know are both wrong (ie. the behaviors don't work the way we thought they did in wolves) and are wrongfully applied to dogs (wolf and dog behavior is similar, but has great distinctions). You absolutely must establish rules, but that is with any dog, regardless of tenacity or dominance. My older girl and my boy are both alphas. When I lived at my mom's house, they ran the roost on her dogs and they clearly are in charge when it comes to the 2 year old in the house. Not once have they ever "challenged" me. And why should they? I am not a dog. I am not part of their "pack". We have a family unit, yes, but dogs don't generally establish packs or a pack mentality in interactions with humans.
Posted by KellyBrian2013[/QUOTE]

I guess it just goes to show that every dog is very different. Ozzy is submissive both with other dogs and us, but he is by no mears fearful. He excitedly walks into new places, including the vet's office and walks himself up to new dogs and people, he is not afraid of anything. But he does roll on his back a lot, he evens plays with his toys on his back the majority of the time. For other dogs, for myself and for FI he also goes on his back without fail (and no, FI and I do not force him into this position, he does it on his own, usually when he doesn't want to do something, like get his coat brushed). In doing so however, we have never seen an indications that he is nervouse or scared (his tail is always up and wagging, even in his submissive position). The only time he tends to get nervous is if we go to the dog park and it's very busy and there is a rush at the gate to greet the new coming. He will usually cower for a moment or two but the next thing you know, not only is he off playing, but he is very social, going up to every dog at the park to say hello and is also the first one at the gate to greet the newcomers.

By being the boss I simply meant that it's important to establish that you as the owner are in charge and the dog needs to listen to you, not necessarily proving dominance in any way. Example is our neighbor who has a very large Weimeraner puppy. She has zero control over this dog. Even though she went to training (was in our class actually) she was never able to grasp the concept of demonstrating being in charge by giving commands in a firm tone and using happy tone for positive reinforcement and a not happy tone (but not yelling) for things like "no, drop it, leave it, etc" so the dog basically ignores our neighbor and all the commands she gives. This dog is also a jumper which is not under control either, as I have gotten punched in the face by dog paws many times.

lanamilo · October 2012

I have 4 dogs.
We have been together for 10 years, lived together for the last 6 and bought a house 5 years ago. We got married 9/12.

We adopted a female Siberian Husky who was about 8mo old back in 2007. She was crazy and wild. She had been neglected. She is absolutely beautiful and very loving now. But still has a bit of that wild streak at 6 years old.

We adopted a male Siberian Husky in 2007 (later the same year). He was a 2 mo old pup. He is the sweetest most laid back lump of fuzzy awesomeness ever. He is now 5yo and 83lbs of gray and white fluff. His laid back demeanor helped my wild child Husky to calm down. He kept a lot of her anxiety down. They are so closely bonded as adults- they don't go anywhere without their partner. Otherwise is a a howling nightmare (literally).

Last November, my DH brought home a little chihuahua. He asked me if we could take him from someone he knew. I told him no. In his usual fashion he did what he wanted and brought the little guy home. He was 4lbs and 8mo old. Little white and brown chi boy. He is mostly white and looks like a mini painted pony. He has these creepy green amber colored eyes. Since then he has been my baby. He's now 6lbs. He's loving and funny and cute. I had to do the whole training, housebreaking, etc.

Just last month (the weekend after the wedding) we adopted an 8yr old female chihuahua. She is a brown and black reindeer chihuahua. She wasn't housebroken at 8 yr old. She is getting much better on that. She is getting used to our house and how we operate pretty well. Being a reindeer, she is a larger chihuahua and weighs in at 11lbs.

We are one happy family.

Yes the dogs take work. The Huskies and their coats need attention. Last night I brushed both out really well- they are putting their winter coats on now and shedding out the summer hair. I did nails on all 4 last weekend. I had a dental cleaning done for my new chihuahua at the vet last week ($$). I have to vacuum and mop every day or 2 because of the dog hair and muddy paw prints. So what I'm saying, is to be a good dog parent, means to commit yourself to the time, training, and financial responsibilites of being a pet owner.

KellyBrian2013 · October 2012

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_chit-chat_any-doggie-owners-out-there?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:14Discussion:89cfe49e-4996-43c2-846e-7dc133e59796Post:20b6c2d2-053f-428f-af0e-247751a1dfea">Re: Any Doggie Owners Out there?</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: Any Doggie Owners Out there? : I guess it just goes to show that every dog is very different. Ozzy is submissive both with other dogs and us, but he is by no mears fearful. He excitedly walks into new places, including the vet's office and walks himself up to new dogs and people, he is not afraid of anything. But he does roll on his back a lot, he evens plays with his toys on his back the majority of the time. For other dogs, for myself and for FI he also goes on his back without fail (and no, FI and I do not force him into this position, he does it on his own, usually when he doesn't want to do something, like get his coat brushed). In doing so however, we have never seen an indications that he is nervouse or scared (his tail is always up and wagging, even in his submissive position). The only time he tends to get nervous is if we go to the dog park and it's very busy and there is a rush at the gate to greet the new coming. He will usually cower for a moment or two but the next thing you know, not only is he off playing, but he is very social, going up to every dog at the park to say hello and is also the first one at the gate to greet the newcomers. By being the boss I simply meant that it's important to establish that you as the owner are in charge and the dog needs to listen to you, not necessarily proving dominance in any way. Example is our neighbor who has a very large Weimeraner puppy. She has zero control over this dog. Even though she went to training (was in our class actually) she was never able to grasp the concept of demonstrating being in charge by giving commands in a firm tone and using happy tone for positive reinforcement and a not happy tone (but not yelling) for things like "no, drop it, leave it, etc" so the dog basically ignores our neighbor and all the commands she gives. This dog is also a jumper which is not under control either, as I have gotten punched in the face by dog paws many times.
Posted by SB1512[/QUOTE]

First bolded point: I never said that ALL dogs who roll over are going to be fearful. I said that they are more likely to be. And it's true. Of course every dog is different.

Second bolded point: a wagging tail isn't always an indication of a happy dog. That is a common misconception (oh, he's wagging his tail so he must be happy/comfortable/friendly). Often it is a sign of anxiety or nervousness, especially if the dog is rolling over on it's back in response to a person or another dog.

Any Doggie Owners Out there?

Re: Any Doggie Owners Out there?

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