Puppy advice

[Tuckervill]

I think you've got it all together, girl. You go.

I have very specific things I do and do not expect from my canine relationships. Many "dog" people would not agree with some of them. I don't care. Our lifestyle flexes to includes dogs. We have very happy, healthy, well-behaved dogs who I am proud to own. It all works for us. Do what works for you.

Karen

[sundial]

Wahine, I think you're set on go. As long as the patients (and boss) don't object to having one big love bug hogging the gym, I think it's a viable plan.

Kerrybelle, I could kiss Casey's little nose.

[kdskaggs]

Just one lucky dog!

Kenda

[Wahine]

LOL, I've been looking.

There's a possibility down in Eugene. It's a 3 hour drive. DH and I are discussing it.

[Veronica]

Wahine, when you finally do get a dog, will you start a new thread please? I've mostly stopped reading this one, excpet when I see that you have posted.

Thanks!

V.

[Wahine]

Definitely V.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

f) bullmastiffs can have aggression issues - especially with other dogs, I'm aware of this (I have owned one before that had some issues) and am willing to take the necessary precautions should something like this arise.

This is the aspect that bothers me.
Is this grown dog going to react badly if you are in the bathroom and the dog is in your office and a stranger suddenly walks in?....or worse yet, if some little kid enters your work place when you are not right there with your dog at the moment, and runs up squealing to pet the doggie?
How will you prevent this if you are not with the dog every second? You can't really control other people's unexpected movements in your workplace.

[kerrybelle]

Bullmastiffs' are people dogs, they love people! They tend to be aggressive towards other animals not people. It would probably be apparent when first meeting the dog if they had any issues with people.

A German Shepherd is more likely to do something if the owner isn't there, because they are protective of their space. Bullmastiffs are protective of their owner.

[Wahine]

+1 what Kerrybelle said. Also, if you're adopting an adult dog, they are evaluated and you would know before getting the dog if there was a people problem. Attacks on people are far more likely with many other breeds. The issue is with other dogs.

Not only that, the dog would not have free run of the office, when not with me it would be crated or kenneled in a quiet space. My clinic is set up that I am not unexpectedly interrupted by a patient/child/whatever, they have to get past reception first.

[sundial]

A German Shepherd is more likely to do something if the owner isn't there, because they are protective of their space. Bullmastiffs are protective of their owner.

Gsds, like people, come in all flavors of temperaments. Of my 4 dogs (3 of which are german shepherds) the australian shepherd is the one who will clean your clock if you try something stupid. Like the bully, German shepherds prefer to bond with one person in the family. Unlike the bully, they *have* to have a job to do or else they will create one of their own, which usually isn't a pretty sight.