I rescued a new puppy last night!

[mickeylove2]

I'm so excited, my girls are going to be thrilled. I really didn't want to get a puppy, I would much rather have an older dog that was already housebroken and trained...but I'm glad to have this cutie pie. My GF has been trying to convince me that we needed a dog for the kids, I love animals but just do not have the time or energy to spend on a puppy.

Well, an aquaintence of mine called me yesterday and told me that she and her BF were splitting up and she was moving back in with her parents and they would not allow her to keep this puppy that she had just gotten 2 weeks ago. I have no idea where she got her or anything, and she was kept outside most of the time so she had fleas. ICK!

Anyway, she asked me if I would take her. I called my GF and asked her about it and told her that if I took this puppy that she would have to do the training and all that. She said of course, so we went and picked up our new little buddle of rambuncitious joy! She is about 10 weeks old, brown and fluffy. I was told she is a chow/rottweiler mix but I can't be sure. She does look like a chow though.

We named her Cali and we had no accidents last night!!! We were told she was almost fully housebroken anyway, so there's not a whole lot left to do there. She slept right in bed with us all night and she was so good. She's really smart, didn't chew on anything but her bone and toy. She walks well on a leash, and even walks right beside you off of her leash. I will be taking her to the vet on Monday morning.

Ok, I just thought I would share my good news about the new addition to my family!

 

[golfgal]

Just hope your insurance company doesn't find out-both those breeds are on most companies naughty dog list and they can drop you for owning one. Yes, they do random checks AND if you have any kind of a claim involving the dog they won't have to pay the claim. Just something to keep in mind.

 

[Darsa]

Congratulations on your new furbaby! That's awesome that you rescued her, I love to hear that!

Pictures please!!

 

[mhsjax]

Just hope your insurance company doesn't find out-both those breeds are on most companies naughty dog list and they can drop you for owning one. Yes, they do random checks AND if you have any kind of a claim involving the dog they won't have to pay the claim. Just something to keep in mind.

The info that I read said that they may increase your rates. I didn't see anything about dropping you. Also said that some will actually lower the rates back down if the dog has been the an accredited training program. I don't think you can say that insurance companies will drop you, I know too many people that have some of these dogs. German Shepards are on the list, OMG if the insurance companies dropped everyone with a German Shepard, they would have tons of money.

 

[Pluto 2]

you might have to go to state farm since you own a rottweiller thats what i had to do.

 

[Tiggernut_jadie]

Just hope your insurance company doesn't find out-both those breeds are on most companies naughty dog list and they can drop you for owning one. Yes, they do random checks AND if you have any kind of a claim involving the dog they won't have to pay the claim. Just something to keep in mind.

Well aren't you a ray of sunshine!

Congratulations on you new family member OP - hope she settles well!

 

[melissa0208]

Congrats on the new addition!!!

 

[jrmasm]

Well aren't you a ray of sunshine!

Congratulations on you new family member OP - hope she settles well!

Holy crap! Those were the exact words that popped into my head!

 

[ElizK]

Picture, please!! congrats on the new baby!

 

[mickeylove2]

Thanks everyone! I'm not worried about the insurance issue, she will be living at my GF's house and she has this all taken care of on her end. As soon as I figure out how, I will try and post pics of her sometime this weekend, I am at work now. I am so excited, I have been looking up all kinds of info online this morning, I want to get her in a K-9 Training program so that we don't have any issues with her. I'm guessing she is gonna be on the bigger side when she's fully grown. Right now she is little, a medium sized dog collar tightened as far as it will go fits her neck just right. She is about the size of a toy poodle maybe.

 

[klacey1]

Aww, that's terrific!! Yes, please post pictures!! Congratulations!

 

[Ceila]

Holy crap! Those were the exact words that popped into my head!

Me, too!

 

[punkin]

Just hope your insurance company doesn't find out-both those breeds are on most companies naughty dog list and they can drop you for owning one. Yes, they do random checks AND if you have any kind of a claim involving the dog they won't have to pay the claim. Just something to keep in mind.

It's neither a rott nor a chow. it is a mutt of unknown origin.

ETA: I am sure it is adorable though.

 

[golfgal]

It's neither a rott nor a chow. it is a mutt of unknown origin.

ETA: I am sure it is adorable though.

Doesn't matter if it is a mutt, if it is found to be either, they could get dropped from their insurance or not have a claim covered. People get all excited about puppies without checking into issues like these-that are very real.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Congratulations on your new addition. Truly.

I guess I'll be the second ray of sunshine and tell you to please, please, please try to do this right if you're going to take on the responsibility of owning a dog like this. Both of those breeds need STRONG handlers (and I don't mean physically strong, necessarily) who know what they're doing and are committed to training and socializing the dog correctly so he can be a good member of society.

I hate to say it, but I already see some red flags in your post!

1) impulse aquisition, not researched
2) potentially difficult/aggressive breeds
3) little knowledge of training with a "hands off/let someone else do it" attitude - sorry, it just doesn't work that way!
4) didn't really want a puppy, want an older dog, needed convincing, etc - you should always pay attention to your instincts!
5) dog kept outside/covered in fleas - already; questionable beginnings and neglected
6) children in the home
7) no time to spend with puppy

Sorry for pointing all this out and being a Debbie Downer but I'd hate to see 6 months from now posts saying the dog isn't working out, etc.

You can do this, but you need to do it right if it's going to work! And the time to do it right starts NOW - ie from the moment the dog enters your home!

RUN to a bookstore and get two books called My Smart Puppy and Good Owners, Great Dogs, by Brian Kilcommons. Read them cover to cover THIS WEEKEND.

 

[jrmasm]

Congratulations on your new addition. Truly.

I guess I'll be the second ray of sunshine and tell you to please, please, please try to do this right if you're going to take on the responsibility of owning a dog like this. Both of those breeds need STRONG handlers (and I don't mean physically strong, necessarily) who know what they're doing and are committed to training and socializing the dog correctly so he can be a good member of society.

I hate to say it, but I already see some red flags in your post!

1) impulse aquisition, not researched
2) potentially difficult/aggressive breeds
3) little knowledge of training with a "hands off/let someone else do it" attitude - sorry, it just doesn't work that way!
4) didn't really want a puppy, want an older dog, needed convincing, etc - you should always pay attention to your instincts!
5) dog kept outside/covered in fleas - already; questionable beginnings and neglected
6) children in the home
7) no time to spend with puppy

Sorry for pointing all this out and being a Debbie Downer but I'd hate to see 6 months from now posts saying the dog isn't working out, etc.

You can do this, but you need to do it right if it's going to work! And the time to do it right starts NOW - ie from the moment the dog enters your home!

RUN to a bookstore and get two books called My Smart Puppy and Good Owners, Great Dogs, by Brian Kilcommons. Read them cover to cover THIS WEEKEND.

I don't think there is anything wrong with your post. You're trying to be helpful, not a know it all. There's a HUGE difference.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

I don't think there is anything wrong with your post. You're trying to be helpful, not a know it all. There's a HUGE difference.

Well hopefully that's how it comes across.

Of course, the dog could be the sweetest dog in the world and one of those who's "naturally" just fine.

But OTOH, many dogs, often the bully breeds, develop problems.

I think that with any dog, it's good to go into it with your eyes fully open.

 

[JKLLady]

Congratulations! As someone who grew up with chows (my grandfather had them), and who has been a chow owner for the last 30 years, I can tell you that they are not a mean breed. However, they are a stubborn and independent animal that requires an owner who lets them know that the owner is boss, not the other way around. Chows will not do something just because you want them to; they have to want to do it too! They pick and chose what tricks they will perform.

They care deeply about their owners and can become overly protective if you don't socialize them properly. You'll need to take the puppy out with you and get them used to being around all types of people, including kids. Do not use this puppy as an "outside dog", or he will never be socialized and you will have problems.

As to children, my DD is 24 and my DS is 13, and have both grown up with chows. When DD was a baby, we didn't need a monitor, because our female chow slept next to her crib, and came and woke me if she even made a peep. When DS was a toddler, he stuck our male in the nose with a fork, and the big guy just sat there and looked at him!

This is a loyal and loving breed if raised properly (just ask Martha Stewart!), but you must put the time and effort into their training. I suggest that you go to chowchow.org and mychowchow.org to learn more about your new puppy ASAP.

 

[mickeylove2]

Congratulations on your new addition. Truly.

I guess I'll be the second ray of sunshine and tell you to please, please, please try to do this right if you're going to take on the responsibility of owning a dog like this. Both of those breeds need STRONG handlers (and I don't mean physically strong, necessarily) who know what they're doing and are committed to training and socializing the dog correctly so he can be a good member of society.

I hate to say it, but I already see some red flags in your post!

1) impulse aquisition, not researched
2) potentially difficult/aggressive breeds
3) little knowledge of training with a "hands off/let someone else do it" attitude - sorry, it just doesn't work that way!
4) didn't really want a puppy, want an older dog, needed convincing, etc - you should always pay attention to your instincts!
5) dog kept outside/covered in fleas - already; questionable beginnings and neglected
6) children in the home
7) no time to spend with puppy

Sorry for pointing all this out and being a Debbie Downer but I'd hate to see 6 months from now posts saying the dog isn't working out, etc.

You can do this, but you need to do it right if it's going to work! And the time to do it right starts NOW - ie from the moment the dog enters your home!

RUN to a bookstore and get two books called My Smart Puppy and Good Owners, Great Dogs, by Brian Kilcommons. Read them cover to cover THIS WEEKEND.

I appreciate your post and completely agree with what you are saying. OTOH, actually it will be more of my GFs dog, she has always had dogs, some being agressive breeds. Like I said, I am already looking into training classes and yes I am doing lots of research. I have a great vet alread lined up. The girl had the puppy for 2 weeks, so I really don't think that's going to have a great bearing on how the puppy acclimates to us. My GF works from home so she is there pretty much 24/7 therefore she will have the time to put into the puppy, whereas I work outside of the home 40 hours a week and have after school activities that my kids are involved in.

Basically I felt that if I hadn't taken the puppy, she would have been dropped off somewhere to fend for herself. I'm happy with the decision that I/we made in taking the puppy in. My friend's 4 year old was over yesterday and played with her and she was so calm and didn't jump bite or scratch. In the event that something happens in the future, we will make the proper accomodations for this puppy. I know my limits, I aquired a dog that I couldn't handle once before (long story) and found a proper home for him, and a year later he is the best dog ever. But I trust that my GF will be able to properly raise this puppy and have her turn into a wonderful dog.

 

[PixieDustandEeyore]

Holy crap! Those were the exact words that popped into my head!

Me too! OP congrats on the puppy ! Just ignore the disboard negativity