attn dog owners

[nancyL]

I am thinking about gettting a dog for my kids (well, and me of course ). Its not a matter of if, just a matter of when. The kids are 2,6, and 8. We currently have 3 cats- a 1 year old, a 2 year old and a 10 year old (severely asthmatic). Ive had cats all my life. When we're left with just the two younger ones (the oldest is kind of unaccepting of new pets and I just cant do that to him) is when we'll be getting our dog. Ive pretty much decided on an adult dog from the pound, simply because I know nothing about dogs (and training them) and thought an older dog would be enough of a learning experience for a first timer.
Anyway...on to my question:
What do dogs do all day? The cats sit around in the sun, watch the birds outside and play with thier toys in the kitchen. And they're very happy doing that. I hear about "crate training"- does the dog just stay in the crate till you take him out for a walk? Isnt that cruel? Do they just hang out in the house like cats do? For example, if I take the dog out for 2 walks a day (is that enough?) and then play ball or something with him for say a half hour or so- what does he do the rest of the time? What if I went back to work and the house is empty from 8-4. I cant keep him in a crate that long can I? What is crate training about? I could leave him in my (very nice and large) fenced back yard as long as he has shelter and water (I watch animal planet so I know that much) but what will he do all day back there by himself? Wont he be lonely? Isnt he safer (and cleaner) in the house? What about those long leashes- isnt there the possibility (probability?) of him choking or strangling himself? Can anyone recommend books or a website with which to educate myself? Just tell me everything you all know about dogs- maybe that will be enough (grin).
Thanks!
NancyL

 

[RoutemanDan]

Click here to find out what breed suits you best.

 

[gemmie214]

Wow, that was a LOT of questions

I can only speak for myself, everyone has different opinions on how dogs ahould be trained ect.

We crate trained our dog until he was housebroken. Then we let him have the run of the house day and night. During the day he sleeps, plays with the cat, sleeps, barks at the mailman, sleeps....
Not much different from our cat. At night he sleeps on his bed in our room or if my DH is away with me on our bed (shhhh, don't tell ) As for exercise, it all depends on the breed you have. We have a Lab. He needs a ton of exercise but we are lucky to have a hiking reservation just up the street and my DH takes him for a 3 to 6 mile hike at least 4 times a week. We also let him out in the yard but he only likes it if we are out there. He is sorta a Momma's boy

Puppies are babies and need a lot of attention and care. Puppies are a LOT of work. Adopting an older dog is a great thing to do. Just ask a lot of questions. Make sure the dog has had kid experience, cat expeienceect Good Luck

 

[janette]

We just got a puppy and are using a crate. Actually they are safer in there since they can't get into anything. Any doubt I had was put to rest the 2nd day we had him and brought home a crate. We put a blanket in and he went in and wouldn't come back out. We only crate him during the day (9-3) and sometimes at night or if we leave the house. He crys when we leave but doesn't mind his crate when we are home and sometimes just sleeps there. He is often sleeping when we get back home so the crying isn't about the crate it's about the separation.

Since you have younger kids & cats an older dog might be best but only one that likes cats. I've had a dog and cat at the same time before and the cat kept the dog in it's place. They had no problems.

Here's a link to a petfinder.com search for your area. Search results

Look at this adorable guy Snowball

 

[DocRafiki]

An older dog is a GREAT idea. Younger dogs need a lot more attention. My 4-to-5-year-old lab sleeps most of the time. Both of my dogs stay in their crates while I'm at work. I come home during lunch to let them go outside, eat/drink, and play a little with each other while I eat. When I get home from work at the end of the day, they both come out of the crates and go outside right away. They greet me for a little while, eat a little here and there, and we usually go on a walk. Then the lab usually goes back into his crate to lie there or onto my bed. The younger dog either gets one of us to play with him or he entertains himself by running around the house like a maniac and playing with his toys. He doesn't go into his crate unless I make him, but he seems to be ok in there. I'd rather have them outside playing all day, but you do what you have to. I think the best scenario, if you're away from the home during work, is to have a well-behaved dog with free roam of the house and yard via a doggie door (actually 2 dogs to keep each other company). But, that just isn't safe for some dogs.

I try to make up for all the in-crate time by playing with my pups a lot when I'm not working. But they still sleep a lot (they are now) and allow me to still have me-time. Every once in a while, they get to play with one of the neighbor dogs -- they LOVE this (they've all moved away ). I've recently found a kennel/day care that allows them to play with other dogs ALL DAY. This is a great treat every once in a while... they usually are exhausted for about 2 days after I bring them home, so it takes away a lot of the guilt you feel when you have to kennel them.

Good luck! An older shelter dog is such a great idea, or look up a breed rescue group if you are set on a breed or want info about the characteristics of a breed. Petfinder.com is a GREAT place to start online. I think Janette has become their official spokesperson!

 

[dalepool]

Daughter just bought an Alaskan Malamute----let me just say Work--Work--Work.

I've had pek's and Saint's Both were great family additions.

We also take shadow to a Doggie day care if we must be gone for over 6 hours---Puppy's just seem to find things to get into. We used a large wire crate--our dog hated it---once as he was biting at the "bars" he got his teeth caught --opened for the biting-then couldn't get mouth opened enough to get unhooked. But also let me tell you --I hear of other dog owner sho have a great success with the crateing. (I wish we were one of them).

You might look in the paper --with the economy the way it is with families moving into smaller homes or even out of the area--great FAMILY pets are having to be left behind. With having small children I would certainly require the pet to be a proven "FAMILY" dog.

All of us will have a snip of info for you just gather what you need -- Then bring the new member of the family home.

From a dog lover---PattyN

 

[Kermit]

When I worked, our dog stayed in his crate all day. (We got doggie daycare here right about the time I quit, so that wasn't an option.) Fortunately, he loves it in there. Now that I'm home all day, he basically sleeps in our bedroom anyway until around 4:00 or so in the afternoon. He loves to sleep. He loves to chew on stuff when he's awake; so that's why we didn't get him out of the crate after he grew out of the puppy stage. It would be fine 99% of the time, but every once in a while, he'd just decide to eat the comforter or the couch if he weren't confined to his crate.

How much they need to play outside depends on the dog. If I tried to walk ours twice a day, he'd probably rebel. He's part Lab and over 3 years old, and that would just be too much. He prefers to run around the backyard for a while and then come inside and chew on his toys. We walk a few times a week, but not for very long.

I'm a former cat owner (DH is severely allergic), and I don't think that dogs require a whole lot more maintenance than most cats. I know there are some cats who really don't have much to do with their owners at all, but if you have the type that try to get in your lap every time you sit down, it's about the same. You just have to let dogs go outside more often since they don't potty indoors, and you have to bathe them or take them to the groomers.

 

[nancyL]

This is great- just what I wanted- lots of opinions, lots of advice.
Keep 'em coming!
Thanks guys!
nancyL

 

[Kallison]

First off my advice would be to not get a dog until your kids are a little bit older, like maybe the youngest in Kindergarten. My rule was when everyone can buckle themselves into their seatbelts, tie their own shoes, wipe their own butts and cut their own meat we would get a dog!

We got our labbie at 11mos. old at the pound. They told us his previous owners kept him crated all day. He had no socialization at all, could not even walk on a leash. He was basically 85 lbs. of dumb. I walked into the kitchen one day and he was on TOP of the table eating. He chewed and destroyed about $500 worth of stuff. He jumped through the screen on our porch, dug holes to get out under the fence. I used to sit in my van in the driveway crying because I didn't know what to do, take him back to the pound and break the kid's hearts?? We spent $1,000 on an invisible fence and after a two week training period that worked great. I discovered bitter apple spray and that helped whenever he grabbed something he shouldn't have. I couldn't bare to stick him in a crate again. He wouldn't go down basement steps, we finally got him down after a month so I had a place to contain him when I went out where he could do minimal damage (if you don't count all the videotapes he chewed up). We took him to obedience school, but the teacher asked us not to bring him back because he distracted the other dogs! Eventually he trained us - we moved all our stuff of value out of his way, he no longer jumps on the table but still "counter surfs" if we leave food out. We make sure garbage can lids are secure, don't leave shoes in the gargage. I used to be a SAHM, so I would walk him every morning for 4 miles, the longer the walk the better behaved he was. He has his own couch down the basement. I've gone back to work and he was seriously depressed. The retired neighbor next door now comes over and walks him and brings him to his house for a few hours. A lot of the neighbors stop on their daily walks and let their dogs out to play with him. Another neighbor leaves biscuits on our morning paper for him each day. So he gets lots of interaction while I'm gone. The neighbor leaves him in or out depending on the weather. I won't leave him out all day if someone is not checking on him or there to let him in when it rains. I call him the "Mayor" people say Hi Sammie when we are out that I don't even know! He no longer sleeps in the basement at night, he has to be at the foot of our bed in his own bed. Whereever I am, he is always in the same room, right now he is sleeping with his head on my feet. He has turned out to be a really nice dog, but it took a good two years of work! I call him my big hairy toddler that will never grow up. But he has been worth it. He is very needy and I don't know if that is because of the care he got his first 11 months. I am still very glad we got him at an older age, I don't think I could have handled the whole puppy training routine, plus I feel strongly about giving shelter pets a home. Also if your kids and spouse say they will help with the feeding, poop scooping, vet visits and walking do NOT believe them or have them sign a contract.......in blood.

 

[AMClvsMKY]

I have always had at least 1 dog, usually large breeds. We only used the cage for potty training purposes. Once they are trained they have always been allowed to roam the house and we have had very positive experince with that. I will recommend you get a metal cage - they are much more indestructable. I think dogs do like their cages, it becomes a "safe" place for them so they don't mind being in them. As far as leaving a dog outside all day - I have no experience with that as our dogs have always been left inside when we were not home. Just my opinion, but I would not leave a dog alone on a leash. I think toys are very important - we have had the best luck with the ropes, usually with a cow hoof or a rubber ball attached, cow hooves and balls ( tennis or rubber). Most of my dogs have also loved to catch a frisbee. Again this is based on mostly large dogs, small dogs might have different "tastes"
2 walks a day and then an hour of play a day - your dog will be in heaven!!!!!!
Adult dogs pretty much lay around during the day unless they have convinced someone to play with them and they could play fetch for hours
If your dog gets bored, (s)he can just antaginize your cats. And don't think he won't either - that's perfectly normal. Those cats will set him straight real quick.
I don't know of any books or websites for you, just have years of being a dog owner experience.

Any other questions - just ask

 

[nancyL]

You guys are GREAT. Kallison- you made me laugh out loud! This info is just what Im looking for- hope you dont mind, Im cutting and pasting it all into a word document so I can refer and re-read it later.
Keep the replies coming!

NancyL

 

[Tink42]

We used a crate to train our Wheaton. At 10 yrs. old , he doesn't need to be put into it when we go out but that is where he heads. We never lock him in his crate anymore but he spends a lot of time in it. It is a great place for him to get away if we have young visitors. I tell the children that when the dog is in the crate, he is off limits. When we leave the house, he heads right to it and doesn't come out till we get back home.

Good luck with your pet purchase. You are being very wise to research all of this.

 

[Nuts4Disney]

I'm sorry I can not answer your questions personally. However, I see that you're NJ neighbor. I don't know if you're in this area, but I am familiar w/ the Monmouth County S.P.C.A. & I can vouch for them as a good, honest organization w/ a lot of integrity. Perhaps they or their website can help you out. You might even consider giving one of their animals a good home.

Please note that the S.P.C.A.s are run independently. I can ONLY vouch for the Monmouth County S.P.C.A. I do NOT have any knowledge or experience with any of the other ones.

www.monmouthcountyspca.org

Best of luck!

 

[Regina]

8 years ago, I adopted a pound hound. I didn't take any of the kids with me because I was concerned that each would pick a different dog, and that would have led to someone being very disappointed.

Molly (a chocolate lab mix) was about 2 years old at the time. Since I was the one who "rescued" her, she wouldn't leave my side. We also discovered that she was afraid of men. The kids did their best to interact with her, but she was quite reluctant. It literally took a year before she got up one day and went to look for one of them instead of being glued to me. She finally got used to DH as well.

When you get a dog from the pound, you're getting an animal that, for whatever reason, was unwanted. We've come to accept her quirks. She doesn't like to cuddle, but she wants to be close by. Her gentle nature has always been a plus.

Whether you get a pup or an older dog, tons of patience is required.

 

[Nuts4Disney]

dvcreg

It is very heartwarming that you & your family had the love, patience & took the time to get to know your Molly & let her adjust to all of you.

You are correct that these poor creatures at the "pound" are unwanted for one reason or another. The website I posted has a page of the rescue stories of some of their animals.

I am far from an expert in this, but I believe that any animal that you take in has it's own needs/quirks & would take some time for all to adjust. Albiet, that the "pound pups" may take more effort, in some cases. One of the reasons I only recommended the Monmouth County S.P.C.A. specifically is because I am more familiar w/ them & believe they are honorable & try their best to make a good match.

Best of luck whatever you do.