CDIH

medium, beagles are cute, but I hear they bark, how about a fox hound ... I'd probably take any pound mutt :-D my friend's bf's cat had kittens, two calico, if anyone wants one ... :loveya:

what does calico mean?? I've been wondering that since hearing the AAF song Calico Cats...

Quote:Mousers don't shed much...also LZ you've got an iradessent shark...those are my favorites...too bad they all died from that pH thing...cool tank though...I'm better with fish now...I've just had a bad history...

yeah my 2 irridescent sharks are cool...i've had them since i bought the tank in the beginning of last year.

2 tired you sound like my wife...she has no luck with aquariums so i get the responsibility of taking care of it.

these are calicos......







i'm not sure the exact meaning of the word but as you can see they're sort of patchy....not 1 solid color....more of a mix.

Cool... :thumbs-up: Dude I took care of my last fish. The person I entrusted with him killed him. :disappointed:

what about a bloodhound, anyone see one in person? are they cute? they are big though

Bloodhounds are pretty cool, Ladi, but you have to take into consideration that they are "sporting" dogs. Sporting dogs need a "job" big time and they have a huge "prey-drive". They need to satisfy that energy they have. Also, beagles, fox hounds and any sporting dogs like that are big, BIG barkers. Of course, I am just giving you the negatives first. Alot of people successfully have these kinds of dogs even in urban areas and they are quite compatible and have happy lives.

I, personally, would highly recommend a German Shepard for a first dog. They are the "obedience wonders" of the dog world. Of course, you have to be careful where you get one and there are a few different varieties of them these days. Just educate yourself about them and ask questions, questions, questions about the breeding if you go through a breeder. Alot of sick shit goes on out there just to make a quick buck selling puppies. Also, there are Breed Rescue groups for just about every breed these days and these dogs have been screened for behavioral issues already. They will not adopt out a dog that has a questionable tempermant and alot of these dogs are young adults and have already been through the chewing/house-training puppy phase.

Animal shelters are a great way to find a nice mixed breed or any dog, for that matter. Mixed breeds are a healthier dog compared to full breeds and they are highly intelligent. Just make sure you ask a billion questions and try not to fall in love with the first set of puppy eyes you see (that is a hard one...I know). These days, because so much has changed in the training realm of canines, the shelter worker can be a valuable source of information regarding a specific dog waiting to be adopted.

RE: Training - another thing to be extremely scrutinizing about. Just about anybody can set up shop and call themselves a dog trainer these days. Hitting dogs on the nose with a newspaper, rubbing noses in feces, etc. etc. is a thing of the past. Look for somebody that has studied the learning theory and is a member of some type of training organization that uses "positve" methods. It makes a world of difference. Dogs are not humans and what works for people doesn't work for dogs.

holy poop! sorry for the ramble! uicide:

my cousin recently took a stray off the street. its mix greyhound, somethng else i forget, and i think pit bull. i joke that it might be one of those wild dogs that killed some animals at the staten island zoo, but except for an early biting incident its been pretty good and getting alot better. it listens to my cousin really well. when he got it he said it was really thin and looked like santa's little helper from the simpsons.

also it can jump really high. she hates their neighbors and once just jumped over their 6 foot fence and started growling at them.

Quote:one of those wild dogs that killed some animals at the staten island zoo,

Oh yeah! I remember that! :-o

We have always had one wild pack or another here in Silver Lakes Park. Haven't really seen any lately, tho. My Rottie and I used to get them pretty good. They would be waiting in the bushes and growling at us so we would just run right after them (reverse psychology).....me screaming like an idiot...they would run like the wind! :lol:

If you really want a purebred, make sure you investigate the breeder before buying, because there are a bunch of bad ones out there. Or even better call up a vet and see if he knows any people, I used to intern at an office and almost all vets take their reputation very, very seriously, so they are very careful about who they recommend.

Personally I'd go with a mix, besides the fact that a mix is more unique, they are smarter, healthier and usually embody the best qualities of two breeds. Plus most pound puppies turn out to be the most loving dogs, because they know you saved them, of course some of them become quite protective of you, so it might not be a bad idea to go with a few other people to see how the dog handles groups.

Also, don't put off training a dog, it will only become harder to train them as time goes on.

Quote:If you really want a purebred, make sure you investigate the breeder before buying, because there are a bunch of bad ones out there.

And stay away from pet shop puppies. Please, please, please. :disappointed:
These dogs come from horrid conditions, sub-human even. Everytime someone buys one they are supporting that industry. Alot of them are in-bred: father to daughter/son to mother/brother to sister....they may appear ok, but, in about three or so years they are suffering from some life threatening medical illness. I see it all the time. Also, because they live in small cages and run around all cute in the window of a pet shop they are harder to house-train. They are quite used to soiling where they sleep.

Quote:Also, don't put off training a dog, it will only become harder to train them as time goes on.

Exactly. Alot of people get puppies and put off training until they are a year or so. That is the worse thing you can do, because there is a certain time period where pups are so vulnerable to what they are learning. We have a saying in my puppy K class I assist teaching in: "What a dog is learning to do...he is learning to DO" meaning the way he is coping with his experiences now he is going to be using the same coping mechanisms later in his life. People that let thier puppies jump on them...well, that's all well and good now, but, when he's older he's going to wonder what the Hell he did so wrong when he's being held in an animal shelter and then euthanised for jumping on that sweet little old lady, who is now suing you, because her hip is broken.


ok...I'm-a shut my yapper now.

my sister just told me this woman she works with dog is having a litter of chocolate labbies.....i want one :-(

We just got home from my neighbor's. She knows a woman who's rotti just had 13 puppies. They're a mix of rotti, shepard and chow. My neighbor's sister just got one. They're 3 weeks old and adorable...and FREE. Too bad I have 2 dogs already.

You guys are makin me want a dog... But I can't cause of housing policies here at school and also I don't think gettin one would be a good idea cause of the whole allergy to fur thing I've got goin on... :clueless:

But it was soooooo cute!


EDIT: I think most terrier breeds are more hypoallergenic than other breeds.



Edited By Sweet Angel on 1046390667

Quote:chocolate labbies

:loveya: ooo oooo them! how are they as dogs?

my grandfather used to have one, a big black lab, when i was really little, I remember going into the pen with him & the dog was tall as I was!

labs are teh bestest! blacks, yellows or chocolates........they rock!

they're :
big
goofy yet extremely intelligent
very easily trained
loyal


they're the best companions :thumbs-up:

they are wonderful...all LZ said and more.

so sweet and mushy and loveable.

i so want one

i love the floppy ear ones

I was bit by a chocolate one once...I went to pet it but I guess it thought I was reachin at it's master, who's lap it was in...big dog too, when he jumped up and bit my arm he was def on his back legs standing almost face to face with me...scary as shit...I was only 9 or 10... :disappointed:

never pet a dog with out asking the owner first.
and also always approch it with palm up...and let it smell you first.
NEVER palm down patting them on the head...that's what gets you bit!