single, working dog owner

[Biciclista]

I just read about Larissa too. what a story!

I understand they can be a real handful, basenjis, that is. but she's a cross
and she's her own dog. I hope you get her and tell us all about it. She'll learn quickly to respect the cats.

keep us posted.

[elk]

Badger

I mostly agree with the others.... with a Caveat. Don't fall in love with a Border Collie or an active Aussie or any dog that has alot of energy and need for interaction and activity.

Most dogs will adjust to the lifestyle in which they find themselves....but the right match is important. It's not just a matter of age, or even breed...but temperament and needs.

A retired greyhound (one who safe with cats...many aren;t) would be perfect....a soft couch and 10 hours of uninterrupted sleep is heaven to them. A pug, a basset, an Irish WOlfhound...mastiff types (Rotties) and sighthounds often do well.

A soft couch and 10 uninterrupted hours of solitude and boredom is hell to 99% of border collies, aussies, papillons, most of the sporting breeds, terriers and other herding dogs....even my rather laid back and lazy rough collie would end up barking a lot.

It's totally possible....with the right dog.

[badger]

thanks, Elk. I do look at certain breeds, but even within those breeds there are exceptions. But that being said, I'm not looking at any of the herding breeds, and it's not my choice to look at terriers as they have a pretty strong prey-drive, too, but these dogs from Taiwan tend to mostly be of the basenji/terrier types.

I'm very cautious about the temperament, I would say that is the primary quality I'm looking at. Calm, gentle, friendly, and easy going. My old dog was mostly-rottweiler, and yeah, all he did was pretty much sleep all day and all night.

I really would hate to have a dog come all the way from Taiwan and find that our energies are all wrong. I do need a calm dog indoors but are able to keep up with the occasional runnin, hiking and camping type of lifestyle. Still processing it all and it will be a decision I won't be making lightly.

On another note, I volunteer at the SPCA hospital and I'm fostering a little schnauzer with a broken leg for a few weeks. Hopefully he'll get me in the doggy frame of mind and routine. I won't be keeping him, even though he's cute. He's still very young (about 8 months) and is cute, smart, and small. he'll be adopted just like *that*. I want a dog that most people would pass up. A diamond in the rough, so to speak.

[elk]

thanks, Elk. I do look at certain breeds, but even within those breeds there are exceptions. But that being said, I'm not looking at any of the herding breeds, and it's not my choice to look at terriers as they have a pretty strong prey-drive, too, but these dogs from Taiwan tend to mostly be of the basenji/terrier types.

I'm very cautious about the temperament, I would say that is the primary quality I'm looking at. Calm, gentle, friendly, and easy going. My old dog was mostly-rottweiler, and yeah, all he did was pretty much sleep all day and all night.

I really would hate to have a dog come all the way from Taiwan and find that our energies are all wrong. I do need a calm dog indoors but are able to keep up with the occasional runnin, hiking and camping type of lifestyle. Still processing it all and it will be a decision I won't be making lightly.

On another note, I volunteer at the SPCA hospital and I'm fostering a little schnauzer with a broken leg for a few weeks. Hopefully he'll get me in the doggy frame of mind and routine. I won't be keeping him, even though he's cute. He's still very young (about 8 months) and is cute, smart, and small. he'll be adopted just like *that*. I want a dog that most people would pass up. A diamond in the rough, so to speak.

well there you go! you know what to look for. i can;t remember if you said you had cats...yes i think....look at the greyhounds, if you like them....they are so noble and grateful and there are SO many of them who need homes.
(just make sure it's a cat safe one...)
I suppose the right pit/mix might work....but I don;t know that much about them. A friend of mine who runs a county shelter keeps telling me about these fabulous dogs: kid, cat, other dog safe pits that go unadopted because of their breed. But then she's someone who's totally honest and who is VERY dog savvy. I've met lots of people---good people-- who work in rescue and shelters who are NOT dog savvy...they just want to see the dogs adopted.

One other note. Some Shelter/rescue people have really limited practical breed knowledge. Sweet Larissa looks like a "primitive" like many dogs all over the world. Especially feral and 3rd world dogs. Medium sized, upright or curled tail, prick ears, short hair. The Original, or Ur dog. Basenjis are a kind of primitive breed, but Manchesters are not....point being, I suspect they said MT because she's small and black.

I get a laugh out of looking at Petfinder and finding things like part Saluki, part Coon hound....rare breeds who are very unlikely to have met and copulated in unsupervised circumstances...But because the dog has feathers on drop ears is black and tan and runs fast...IOW it's a rather improbable guess.

BUT!
This is the fun part...looking for love in all the right places....;-) Open your heart and the right dogs will find their way towards you....;-)

[berkeley]

I work with an greyhound adoption group... I'd say that we place probably 70% of our dogs in homes with cats (after proper screening, of course). They do really well with kitties, amazing as it is given their history and breeding.

Here's a gratuitous picture of one cat safe female up for adoption

[elk]

She's BEAUTIFUL! I love sighthounds....sigh....

I hope Badger sees her and her heart skips a beat.

[Blueberry]

Awww - she's beautiful!!!

I have a Golden who is the exception. He is very happy to sleep 10+ hours a day (and he's only 3).

CA

[badger]

Berkeley - she IS gorgeous. Too bad you're way over in CT. She reminds me of this girl, who they offered me to foster.

They seem to only have young dogs, but I would love to get a slightly older dog, say 4 years and up.

Elk: I absolutely do not mind pit bull/staffordshire terrier at all. In fact, I conatacted to be a foster home for bully breed rescue but they've not contacted me, so oh well. I wouldn't hesitate to get one at all. I have a soft spot for the prejudiced breeds because it's not so much the dogs but the stupid owners who bring out their bad qualities.

My rotti X had not a single mean bone in his body. He loved everyone, but some people took his friendliness none too kindly. I got ticked off more than once at how people perceived him because he was black/tan and had a docked tail. I would imagine I'd face worse prejudism with a pit. Such a shame that people don't see the gentle side of them.

[tulip]

Daisy's a sweetie! Why are dogs in Taiwan adopted to Canada? Seems like quite a schlep for the pooches. Is there a shortage of stray dogs in Vancouver ?

[badger]

Daisy's a sweetie! Why are dogs in Taiwan adopted to Canada? Seems like quite a schlep for the pooches. Is there a shortage of stray dogs in Vancouver ?

no, we have loads of homeless dogs, too. And people do ask me why I'm getting one from Taiwan when there are so many who need homes here. I guess my answer to that is for the most part dogs here in shelters and foster homes are treated humanely. Kennels certainly aren't the best place for dogs, but at least they're not mistreated.

Over in Taiwan, they don't treat animals all that well. Larissa's story is just one. Most dogs that end up in shelters there only get a week's lease and if nobody adopts them, they're euthanized in the most horrible way: electrocution, drowning, or just plain starvation. I don't know, all their dogs' stories just break my heart so I got involved with volunteering with them, helping them at the airport when they fly in. It's great to see the adoptive families waiting so excitedly and meeting them for the first time.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

I've pretty much decided on this girl http://www.petfinder.com/petnote/dis...petid=13479236

...I'm kind of torn. While I do like the idea of fostering, I don't like the fact I'll be passing up a perfect dog for me. And this IS a 12+ year commitment, whereas a foster will be limited.

I really feel for your dilemma, i understand how difficult it must be!

Looking at the dog in the link- she's still a puppy, looks very active.
So even though she may be the perfect dog for you....are you going to be the perfect owner for this particular dog? Would it be bored and lonely day after day?
I agree with others who have said that there are certain breeds that thrive with a more peaceful lifestyle. Also older dogs don't mind sleeping way more hours.
I vote for fostering- you'll have a dog-- you won't be 'stuck' forever if it's a mismatch-- you can likely adopt it if it's a perfect match-- you will feel good helping a desperate dog. Thus, the situation can or won't be permanent if it doesn't work well.
Or just take in one foster as a 'practice' to see how a dog fits in your lifestyle before committing to permanent.

[badger]

I'm actually taking home a schnauzer with a broken leg home tonight as a foster. He's a really nice puppy (less than a year old), and very responsive to training. I'll have him while he recouperates from his surgery, which they figure is about 4-6 weeks.

I won't be keeping him, as he's a small dog and very young. He'll be adopted in no time. He might be a bit yappy for me, too, so this is a good way to get back into a doggy frame of mind and routine.

It'll be really hard to say goodbye, though. I hate fostering for the spca because they go back to the shelter and not to a home. Hopefully with this guy there will be a home lined up for him so he won't be at the shelter. And I guess even if he does, he'll likely be gone in a couple of days anyways.

I think bit by bit I'm heading in the right direction.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Wonderful news!

You are so generous and kind to take in a foster homeless animal. It takes a special kind of person to do that. You have my sincere admiration.
I think it'll be a great learning/practice experience for both you and the little schnauzer.

[Aggie_Ama]

I'm actually taking home a schnauzer with a broken leg home tonight as a foster. He's a really nice puppy (less than a year old), and very responsive to training. I'll have him while he recouperates from his surgery, which they figure is about 4-6 weeks.

I won't be keeping him, as he's a small dog and very young. He'll be adopted in no time. He might be a bit yappy for me, too, so this is a good way to get back into a doggy frame of mind and routine.

It'll be really hard to say goodbye, though. I hate fostering for the spca because they go back to the shelter and not to a home. Hopefully with this guy there will be a home lined up for him so he won't be at the shelter. And I guess even if he does, he'll likely be gone in a couple of days anyways.

I think bit by bit I'm heading in the right direction.

What a wonderful thing you are doing! My schanuzer is very active but only yippy under circumstances (the doorbell and when strangers come in). Both my schnauzers responded very well to being kennel trained although it wasn't a traditional kennel, we use our laundry room. But the one I still have loves her oversized kennel (like a medium size dog one and she is toy size) that we have at my parents. She thinks of it as her personal room at grandmas. It is pretty funny because she knows it is there for her and retreats to it when they pet sit. Enjoy your foster buddy.

[badger]

I brought home the schnauzer tonight. Considering he's stil pretty young, he did very well in the car (stayed put on his little mat) and listens very well. He barks at pretty much everyone and every dog, but he does respond when I correct him. I think he's just super excited to be outside. But he walks very well on the leash, half a step behind me all the time.

He's also really good in his crate. He whined just a wee bit but when I ignored him he just settled down.

The cats on the other hand are another matter. Morley instantly had a full hate-on and hissing away like there was no tomorrow. He took a couple of swipes at the little guy who just wanted to say hi. Scout disappeared under the bed.

This situation is very dangerous, as he's such a good little dog. It's going to be supremely difficult to give him up if he just keeps on getting better from this point on.