Do You Take Your Dog Into Stores With You?

[Obi-Wan Pinobi]

Oh, there is an exception. For Australian Hook Bills like Cockatiels and Cockatoos - those sit on your right shoulder because like the way water drains, everything in Australia is backwards

 

[Belle0101]

I didn't realize that some cannot live outdoors. I find that ridiculous -- why you would breed a dog to be that way is beyond me? Seems completely illogical, inhuman, and immoral to me.

I don't know that a breed was ever bred with another to specifically result in a new breed that could not live outdoors. But I do know that I have the absolute pleasure of having two such dogs in my life. I had a greyhound and a whippet, neither of which is suited to outdoor living.

The history of each breed is vague, we can only trace back so far, like genealogy, eventually you hit a brick wall.

Here is some info I found on whippets: "... theory is that the Whippet evolved during the 18th and 19th centuries in Northern England. This period of time in English history and in that region of the country, to make a living, the average citizen was either a coal miner, a tenant farmer, or worked in the mills. The wealthy owned vast estates, and it is known that these estates possessed kennels. Among the dogs kept in these kennels were Greyhounds. Greyhounds were not available to the average person, being a large dog and rather expensive to keep and take care of. It is thought that the Whippet resulted from some English coal miners getting a small Greyhound, perhaps a cull(s)from a litter(s), and crossed the small Greyhound with terriers. The resulting get from these crosses were tough, rugged, agile little sighthounds. At that time a dog had to earn its keep by helping to put food on the table for their human family, and providing entertainment as well."

So, the whippet, while not specifically bred to be unable to survive outdoors especially in harsh environments, is a dog that cannot be left outside.

Miranda, my whippet, came to be with us at the age of 6 weeks and lived to be just a few days shy of 17 years. Italy, my greyhound, was a rescue from a track. She was saved from that life just around the time she turned 2. She was only with a few short years before she passed.

Now we have labs and while their coat is such that they could adapt to the outdoors, they are house dogs. I just wouldn't have it any other way.

 

[Free4Life11]

You know I had no idea about this! I just assumed with animals it was survival of the fittest. My parents got a cat, well a stray showed up that my sisters wanted to keep, but it's not allowed in the house, only the garage. Are cats stronger than dogs? I see TONS of stray cats around campus.

 

[Obi-Wan Pinobi]

I don't know if it is a matter of a cat being stronger - I think a lot has to do with the cat's personality. Cats are more adept to living alone than dogs. Cats roam alone, dogs in packs. Cats strive to be individuals, dogs strive to be accepted by their "alpha" pack member (which should be the human) So dogs have probably been kept as house pets longer than cats and have evolved into more of a housepet than cats. Although there are some smaller, frailer breeds of cats that I don't think would do as well as an "outside" pet.

 

[Belle0101]

- when was the last time you saw a wild Poodle?

I'm sorry but that is just too funny! I don't think I'll ever be able to look at another poodle the same way again! Come to think of it, a family at the end of our drive has a poodle, I'll have to ask if they got it from the wild or was it already domesticated when they brought it home. It wears a Harley Davidson collar, does that make a difference?

It's late, I'm starting to get punchy. Time to call it a night. I hope I don't have nightmares about wild Poodles now.

 

[Obi-Wan Pinobi]

Can't you just see that Wild Kingdom guy now.. out on the plains of the Serengeti, stalking a pack of wild poodles. Wait, one has caught our scent! They smell the grooming products, frilly bows and doggy nail polish! Ack! THey are attackinginginsigndngsklarrrrgggg!

Sorry.. think I'm getting a bit punchy too. Time for bed

 

[Belle0101]

Although there are some smaller, frailer breeds of cats that I don't think would do as well as an "outside" pet.

Okay, one last thing then off to bed. My sister once was going to buy a hairless cat, seriously, it's a real breed. Takes all kinds but that was one homely looking cat. Poor thing, you felt like you needed to knit it a sweater or something. I have no idea of it's history but there's no way it could survive outdoors.

Anyhow, her DH said no and they got a Hemingway, I think that's what's it called. Something about it having 6 toes on one or two of the paws. And it has hair.

 

[Obi-Wan Pinobi]

Okay, one last thing then off to bed. My sister once was going to buy a hairless cat, seriously, it's a real breed. Takes all kinds but that was one homely looking cat. Poor thing, you felt like you needed to knit it a sweater or something. I have no idea of it's history but there's no way it could survive outdoors.

Anyhow, her DH said no and they got a Hemingway, I think that's what's it called. Something about it having 6 toes on one or two of the paws. And it has hair.

A Hairless cat? Wth? Geez, I guess that takes care of the dander issue.

I'd feel sorry for the thing being so cold. It could have just followed Lauri's Samoyed around and been covered in hair in no time though. Of course it would probably resemble something of a albino Cousin It

 

[kimmikayb]

No I don't know a lot about dogs. Since I don't like dogs, I don't spend the time to learn about them. I didn't realize that some cannot live outdoors. I find that ridiculous -- why you would breed a dog to be that way is beyond me? Seems completely illogical, inhuman, and immoral to me.

Yes I don't like animals, for a variety of reasons. No there is nothing wrong or weird with me or that opinion. I'm not cruel to them, I just don't like being around them.

And there are not two threads with me "bashing" God's creation.

I have to ask....why is it completely illogical, inhuman and immoral?

 

[kimmikayb]

Okay, one last thing then off to bed. My sister once was going to buy a hairless cat, seriously, it's a real breed. Takes all kinds but that was one homely looking cat. Poor thing, you felt like you needed to knit it a sweater or something. I have no idea of it's history but there's no way it could survive outdoors.

Anyhow, her DH said no and they got a Hemingway, I think that's what's it called. Something about it having 6 toes on one or two of the paws. And it has hair.

LOL, didn't know they were actually breeding "Hemminways" now. He had 6 toe cats and at one time Key West had lots of these cats. Not sure if they still do. I've seen the hairless cats, oh boy are they one ugly cat...but I hear they make great pets but are very expensive.

 

[Planogirl]

LOL, didn't know they were actually breeding "Hemminways" now. He had 6 toe cats and at one time Key West had lots of these cats. Not sure if they still do. I've seen the hairless cats, oh boy are they one ugly cat...but I hear they make great pets but are very expensive.

I recently read that quite a few of these cats still live in and around Hemingway's house even today.

 

[Belle0101]

I recently read that quite a few of these cats still live in and around Hemingway's house even today.

So then maybe a 6 toed cat is just a fluke of nature? It could happen in any litter? I'm not a cat person by any means so all I know is what she told me. Which is when she when she bought the cat the breeder / owner told her it was a Hemmingway, like I would tell people they adopted a Lab from me. The lab being a specific breed and not a dog whose sire was a "traveling salesman" or say had 2 tails.


Hairless Cat Nice article and some pictures. My apolgies to any Sphynx lovers / owners but those cats scare me.

Okay seriously, time to retire the computer for the night and get to bed - where I'll probably have dreams of being chased in the Outback by Jeff Corwin, Steve Irwin, wild poodles and 6 toed hairless cats!

 

[FreshTressa]

Know what bugs me....not people that bring their pets into stores...but the people that get overly irritated by other people's behavior.


I don't bring my dog places, nor do I even want to.

BUT, if other people do, it never occurs to me to get upset. I have trouble understanding how so many people get so irritated by things others do that really have little to no effect on them.

 

[kaylajr]

That rule certainly pertains to stores where food is served -

Sorry for picking just one sentence out of your Post Matthew but this is the one I want to reference

I know that 99.9% of the time stores with food SAY NO DOGS

I work in a store that has everything from food to cigarettees to diapers
a "convience type store"
and yes the RULE is NO animals hanging out in the store
that said in the year i have worked there I know of at least a few occasions people have brought the animals in

once a bird
once a ferret
two time a poodle
2 baby huskys
a baby ( i don't know how to spell ) but the dog that looks like a hot dog

and everytime the owner held the dog made there purchases and left

The manager and staff (me included had no prblem)
they were all responsible people who stayed away from the food section
had control of the pets and didn't cause any issues

we have kids in there all the time
who

Spill food
touch food and put it back
Yell
argue
fight
steal
make a mess
break things

HMMM wonder which customers I prefer

my Parents have a Large Lab so No they don't bring him in there
but he has gone in several local store with them and my grandfather
he is not a seeing Eye dog but he helps my grandfather walk steady
so i see no problem neither did the store manager

it is rare to see here in this area but it is becoming more and more popular

I Have two labs
one i would take into stores if I was ever shopping at a store that allowed them he is a GREAT DOG

the other while still a GREAT DOG i would never cause he is such a clutz

But I think it is a matter of knowing your animal and being in control

JMHO

 

[kaylajr]

Not if it was my lab - your worst fear with her would be that she'd lick you to death.

Mine too
the girls called him Sir Lick Alot when they were little
Must be a lab thing

 

[tinksgirl]

I think it is a bad idea to bring a dog into a store,i suffer from allergys to cats and dogs,the contact with animal hair is about 2 days of not being able to breath well. I don't go to farms or barns because of this and i don't think i should have to worry about items in a store giving me a reaction because of an animal. I also own a childrens store,i can't tell you how many people iv'e had to ask to leave because they walk into a childrens clothing store with a dog! tails wagging up against the clothing leaving behiond hair, worrying about them going to the bathroom on the floor. my biggest fear is that one of these animals may bite another customer .....guess who's lookin at a law suit that would be me!

 

[PlutoPony]

Aren't you scared that your dog might bite someone that you let pet it? I think if I had a dog, that would be my fear.. my dog would bite someone and I would get sued.

Dogs with "normal" personalities don't just bite someone because they stick their hand out to pet them - it takes SIGNIFICANT provocation for something like that to happen. Yes people have stories about being bit by a dog without reason but I suspect most of those dogs haven't been properly socialized or have problems either been undetected or ignored (not trying to excuse the bite). Frankly I trust my dog more than some of the people/kids who come up to him - I'm absolutely amazed at the way many kids approach a strange dog, even a friendly looking one like mine! Clearly they haven't been taught how to do that properly and safely, so we spend a lot of time "educating" kids on how to make friends with a strange dog - not because I'm worried about my dog's reaction (he's a goofy lab) but because the next dog they start bonking on the head HARD to get his attention might not be so forgiving.....

 

[wdwmom2]

Okay, one last thing then off to bed. My sister once was going to buy a hairless cat, seriously, it's a real breed. Takes all kinds but that was one homely looking cat. Poor thing, you felt like you needed to knit it a sweater or something. I have no idea of it's history but there's no way it could survive outdoors.

Anyhow, her DH said no and they got a Hemingway, I think that's what's it called. Something about it having 6 toes on one or two of the paws. And it has hair.

You mean a Sphynx????? Meet Dexter, my Sphynx. Nope, can't live outside. I wouldn't leave him out even if he had the coat of a Musk Oxen. I love my cats too much to let them become road pizza. No, Sphynx may not be for anybody, but beauty is in the eye of the beholder. He feels like a peach and was the warmth of a hot water bottle. The breed is described as part dog, part cat, and part monkey. Watching his antics is worth the price of admission. As far as where the breed origionated, it was a genetic mutation that began in Canada. So I guess that he is mommy's little "mutent"

 

[poochie]

You mean a Sphynx????? So I guess that he is mommy's little "mutent"

I love it!!!!!!

 

[kaylajr]

. So I guess that he is mommy's little "mutent"

I am not a "cat person" normally
But I gotta say
he is really cute