nyri
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never able to sleep
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Post by nyri on Dec 11, 2012 14:42:00 GMT -5
I have a huge "SUCKER" tattooed onto my forehead... and I probably wouldn't be able to leave without a dog or puppy.
So then... what happens when a friend's dog has accident puppies? What happens when I see those puppies? What happens when said puppies can't find homes and I hear they'll be in the shelter soon if they can't find one?
We will find out soon... I can hardly think of anything else, but I'm trying to calm my mind and think rationally. The problem is, I have a very obsessive personality (I think?) and when I get something in my mind, it's near impossible to get out. I've already started planning for the puppy that I haven't decided to get yet... I need a distraction. Even with one, I can't promise I won't bring home a puppy.
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Post by sugar on Dec 11, 2012 15:17:52 GMT -5
I don't know what your situation is, but make sure you are 100% sure you can have a puppy. Puppies requires tons of time, even more patience, and lots of carpet cleaner, lol.
Do you work outside of the home? Do yo already have other dogs? Little kids?
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Post by loverocksalot on Dec 11, 2012 15:43:03 GMT -5
If you are not ready for what ever reason then dont take one. If they will end up in a shelter that is ok as puppies are usually adopted right away. I would be more inclined to give a home to an older dog that is likely to end up in a shelter. Do not go see them if you are not ready for one yet as that will make it real hard to resist. But the questions sugar asked are important ones to consider.
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Post by suziriot on Dec 11, 2012 15:58:13 GMT -5
If you are not ready for what ever reason then dont take one. If they will end up in a shelter that is ok as puppies are usually adopted right away. I would be more inclined to give a home to an older dog that is likely to end up in a shelter. Do not go see them if you are not ready for one yet as that will make it real hard to resist. But the questions sugar asked are important ones to consider. Ditto! |
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Post by maryellen on Dec 11, 2012 16:57:24 GMT -5
puppies need to go potty every hour at 8 weeks old. and thats sometimes thru the night too. puppies need socialization, training, house breaking . puppies are land sharks with needle sharp teeth that hurt like heck and with small children will scare the crap out of the kids with the needle teeth and puppy antics... puppies are cute, but take ALOT of work and time.... 24/7 time ... with alot of kids in the house i would pass and get an adult dog with a set temperment who lives in a foster home with alot of kids IMO but thats just me, i have done the puppy stage more times then i liked, and it was alot of potty accidents, training, chewing, zoomies, socialization and housebreaking..... if the pups end up in a shelter that is not your fault. NEVER get a puppy out of sympathy... think clearly and take your time to choose a dog, a dog is a lifetime, and if the puppy grows up and isnt what you want you will have to deal with it for the next 15 years.. i have raised puppies like i said and adopted 2 adult dogs , and i would do the adult dog over a puppy anyday... adult dogs are already housetrained, past the chewing stage, and their temperment is set and there are no real suprises (and i dont have kids but i know how demanding a 8 week old pup is)
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nyri
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Post by nyri on Dec 11, 2012 17:22:44 GMT -5
Well, I've had puppies before both my own, and other family members, and have a ton of puppy supplies whether left over from them or the baby goats... I also will have a ton of time on my hands for at least the next five months... plus three little dog-sitters living right next door just in case... so my problem is that I AM ready for one and CAN take care of one and KNOW how to take care of one, but since there are so many adult dogs that may not be able to find homes otherwise, and since I know the puppies probably will be able to if they're in a shelter I'd feel guilty for adopting a puppy instead of an adult. I also didn't mean to see them... they were brought to me.
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nyri
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never able to sleep
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Post by nyri on Dec 11, 2012 17:28:23 GMT -5
Oh, and did I mention that I absolutely love both of the parent dogs? I know it's not a perfect indicator of how the puppy will turn out, but they are both very sweet and good dogs that (I was told) took very little time to train... The father is great for such a young dog.
The reason there were accident puppies was because they got the boy puppy and the vet didn't think he was old enough to neuter >.<
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Post by maryellen on Dec 11, 2012 17:56:17 GMT -5
good luck with whatever you decide to do!
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Post by loverocksalot on Dec 11, 2012 18:08:14 GMT -5
BTW what breed of dog are they? Not that it matters, just curious.
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nyri
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Post by nyri on Dec 11, 2012 19:11:13 GMT -5
The mother is a mutt... lab/heeler mix, and the father is an APBT.
I don't really have anything else that has any sort of priority in my life right now... I have classes, but once I move, I'll be doing them online, so I'll be home pretty much all of the time. I haven't had a dog for a year or two... maybe longer, I don't really remember. No kids... no possible kids any time soon.
I guess I haven't really had any specific dog in mind this whole time, but I've really been trying to avoid seeing any sort of dog that actually needs a home in person, at least until I've found out a bit about it... because I knew I'd probably fall in love too easily. That's why when I was considering that one dog I was glad I couldn't physically see him for a month... because unless he was horrible, I'd have probably ended up taking him home and I wanted a lot of time to ask questions and think about it before meeting him.
Would it make me a bad person to take a puppy instead of a dog that really needs a home?
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Post by maryellen on Dec 11, 2012 19:18:32 GMT -5
oh duh i thought for some reason you had 5 children grrrrrr my bad..... ok never mind what i said about taking care of a puppy with children lol.......
no it wouldnt make you a bad person to take home a puppy vs an adult dog.. go with what feels more comfortable to you..
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nyri
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Post by nyri on Dec 11, 2012 19:23:32 GMT -5
Nope... I grew up as one of five, though... maybe I've mentioned that and that is what you were thinking of?
I have never adopted an adult dog before, so I guess I'm more used to raising them... on the other hand, neither would make me uncomfortable.
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Post by loverocksalot on Dec 11, 2012 20:30:30 GMT -5
Maryellen might have confused you with the other new member that has children and was thinking about adopting. And no it would not make you a bad person. I adopted a puppy over an older dog from the shelter and it was the best thing I ever did. It was the right thing. I think everyone here wants to make sure you go with it if you are ready and not just because you are a sucker for puppies. Dont let the puppies are going to a shelter be the reason. Let it be you are ready to get a dog right now.
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nyri
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Post by nyri on Dec 11, 2012 20:51:38 GMT -5
That is a good point... I really think I'm ready, at least, I've been planning on getting a dog/puppy for several months now. I'm trying to make sure that this is the right choice before I commit to it, though... because like you said, I shouldn't get the puppy just because I'm a sucker for puppies. That is kind of why I posted this, because I knew the replies would help me gain some of my mind back so I could actually think about it without all of the extra impulsive emotional stuff in the way.  I just really needed to get out of the state of mind I had been in earlier when I posted this... because it's a dangerous state of mind for me to be in when I really do want to be as rational as possible about getting a puppy or dog, instead of just running out and taking the first one I find... I didn't want want that emotional reaction I have to compel me to take a puppy before actually thinking about these specific puppies. I think now I've calmed down about it... I was able to distract myself with school work until I felt normal again, so now I'm going to actually think about these puppies. |
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Post by adoptapitbull on Dec 12, 2012 6:18:07 GMT -5
I have a similar thought with adult dog in shelter vs. puppy. Adult dogs are more likely to be euthanized than puppies. Puppies go out the door quickly. Then again, those puppies may end up back in a shelter in a year when the people who made an impulsive "OMG PUPPIES! I want one for Christmas!" decision decide they were not ready indeed. Maybe before you commit to a puppy, go browse the local shelter first. This way, if no one jumps out as the perfect fit for you, you can get the pup with a clear conscience. You won't be thinking, "Well, I wonder if I should have adopted an adult instead". Whatever you decide, the only requirement is about 1,000 pictures.  |
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Post by loverocksalot on Dec 12, 2012 8:36:46 GMT -5
^good idea to browse shelter first. Just to be sure the one that is meant to be is not there. And after Christmas like late January or Feb is the best time to browse the shelter. Lots of great returned gifts.
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Post by sugar on Dec 12, 2012 9:36:17 GMT -5
I hope all of this isn't coming off as a bad thing. Anytime people talk about adopting (either adults or puppies) everyopne here asks a million questions to make sure the potential adopter knows exactly what they are getting into and that they have a good enough life-situation to proceed. I can say that because when I joined this forum I hadn't gotten a dog yet. The first dog I had my eye on I thought I was in love with, but the dog's situation wasn't jiving well with mine and it didn't end up happening. A few months later I adopted my current boy Chubs. I understand now that the million questions the forum members were asking me weren't meant to make me feel guilty, or to be intrusive or anything like that. They wanted to know where I was coming from, what I was looking for and in the process really showed me what I did and didn't want out of a dog/puppy/rescue/shelter. And yes, only requirement once you do adopt is a million pics were can all ogle (while our own dog's probably chew up our favorite things quietly out of spiteful jealousy, lol!!) |
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Post by catstina on Dec 12, 2012 11:25:00 GMT -5
All good advice, I don't really have anything to add. I just want you to know that whatever you decide, you will need to post lost of pictures!  |
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nyri
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Post by nyri on Dec 12, 2012 16:13:30 GMT -5
I hope all of this isn't coming off as a bad thing. Anytime people talk about adopting (either adults or puppies) everyopne here asks a million questions to make sure the potential adopter knows exactly what they are getting into and that they have a good enough life-situation to proceed. Not at all. I figured when I posted this that I would be getting lots of questions, and I was really hoping for that to kind of snap my mind out of it (heh... maybe Cesar Millan's techniques would work better on me than a dog...) so I could think straight again plus have the questions that I was forgetting to ask myself. The shelter idea is great... I've actually been almost stalking all of the local shelters here by internet. There have been a couple of dogs that really grabbed me, but there have been reasons I couldn't take either of those dogs... One (collie/doberman cross) hated men, and while once I leave here, there won't be any men in my life, I can't promise there won't be one during her lifetime... she was a very beautiful and sweet dog, but I don't want to traumatize her if I met someone, and I don't want to avoid having male friends just because of the dog... I would totally have her right now if we had similar views on men... The other one that I really liked (pit bull with horribly cropped ears as if they'd been massacred with a can opener) had the sweetest eyes and was such a cuddle bug that I would have taken her right away if I could have a dog before I move... it was interesting that I would end up liking her because she looked kind of like those ugly dogs that are always up on craigslist... not exactly bully type, but still kind of like a hippo, but she couldn't help that... and she was just an amazing dog under her skin... Anyway, she was in foster care and the person fostering her decided to adopt her, so I guess it wasn't meant to be. I'll look one more time before I make a definitive answer, though... I did kind of fall in love with one specific puppy when my friend brought them over though... it was very hard for me not to say "okay, I'll take her" but somehow I managed even in that state of mind... so I can probably manage to turn her down if I need to. I promise to post a lot of pictures, whatever happens. |
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Post by loverocksalot on Dec 12, 2012 19:28:16 GMT -5
You should physically visit the shelter though, much different then looking at photos. Anyway cant wait to see the photos of whatever happens.
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I look forward to learning much here