dogs 101

[Suesumba]

o. Nanook,

pease to do a dog -101 future pet owners and the like? it seems likget in on ccount ofe more people don't know what they get




god i'm not itook this cussbud nitebdrunk's

[Nanook]

Re: dogs 101

hey Sue, what are you saying? You have a new dog? I have a thread here somewhere...or we can start one, lemme go see..

[Suesumba]

Re: dogs 101

Nanook, sorry. got a little notebook and the thing gets wonky. i was saying that some people are not aware of what they get into when they get a new pet. eg. those little dogs with the weepy eyes, hip displaisia, life span, level of activity and all that. you can see videos on you tube.\\\\
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god i hope this makes sense

[SistahD]

Re: dogs 101

There are actually a few websites that list all the features of each dog breed - pros and cons, includes normal weights, illnesses and medical problems for the breeds, expected behaviours etc... so new owners can preview the features they prefer in a pet - in spite of that... I selected my pomeranian - forgetting all the warnings!

[CeaBee]

Re: dogs 101

@ pomeranian

u know them breed tings work fi cat too.

my burmese mix behave exactly like how dem seh burmese is

and the persian mix up she same way too.

[Nanook]

Re: dogs 101

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: SueSumba</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Nanook, sorry. got a little notebook and the thing gets wonky. i was saying that some people are not aware of what they get into when they get a new pet. eg. those little dogs with the weepy eyes, hip displaisia, life span, level of activity and all that. you can see videos on you tube.\\\\
\


god i hope this makes sense </div></div>

It is a shame it still happens more than it doesn't happen in this day and age with so much information out there. I can't begin to tell you the things I have seen and heard over the years.

The horror stories of dogs with debilitating hereditary illness from back yard breeders and puppy mills. but they know if the dog survives you're not going to send it back &quot;there&quot;...so they win.

It's a shame people just don't go to the phone book and look up dog training, that is always a good place to start! Where the people that know what they are doing are..Educating buyers about all things from deciding which breed to start with and training, proper nutrition and literally everything you'd ever want to know, is at one dialing fingertips, yet people still don't know.

At our AKC shows there are educational pet expo's held in conjunction and throughout the summer around the region. They are heavily attended and people walk away with information pamphlets yet this shame still happens.

Kennel Club has several health testing clinics at our show and all through the year. It's a shame more breeders don't take advantage, the test are reasonably priced at a group rate!

That is what is so sad..all of this is out there, yet many get a dog on an almost spur of the moment decision. It almost never goes well. At the very least, the percentage of those that do go well, is low.

This time of year is so much worse even. Right this minute there are thousands of uninformed people out buying Christmas puppies and all they know about the dogs is they have 4 legs and a tail or not).

[SistahD]

Re: dogs 101

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Nanook</div><div class="ubbcode-body">
This time of year is so much worse even. Right this minute there are thousands of uninformed people out buying Christmas puppies and all they know about the dogs is they have 4 legs and a tail or not). </div></div>


How true - from the sites I have visited over the past couple years, they even list if the breed is good around children, ease to train, prone to small dog syndrome etc

[SistahD]

Re: dogs 101

<span style="font-size: 11pt">Here's a quiz to try <span style="font-weight: bold">Dog Breed Selector</span> </span>




<span style="font-size: 11pt"> Another one here Purina Foods -also has an extensive breed list with an abundance of information regarding the breeds</span>

[Suesumba]

Re: dogs 101

xross finger - i hope i wasnt giving N/ook tummuch wok. animals last prox. 72 hrs in a shelter after their people didn;t gigutr out how big a germn shep could get

[Nanook]

Re: dogs 101

Nah Sue, not too much work! I have been a bit busy of late but when I can come play I'm here! PM will work in case of emergency cause of the email pawt...in which case I will do my best.

They don't know how big they get, how much they shed, how needy they are (Dobermans are very emotionally needy as well), how much they eat and how much energy they have.

People who gravitate towards the cuteness of the TOY breeds are hardly ever ready for how often the tiny bladders that accompany tiny dogs need to be emptied and so on, which is why you see so many Toys in the shelters. It's usually about housebreaking, in which crate training can help along with other methods.

It is a sad situation. People who get involved do so in many ways, but the main point is to get involved in the first place.

My area is education. Working hard to do exactly what your topic is about, educate potential puppy buyers about the endearing and not so endearing qualities of each breed, as well as help to find a suitable breeder and what to look out for and what to avoid when looking for a puppy and then expand that help in the training areas.

Some work more with rescue which is wonderful and I have had my share of rescue animals as well as a back round in animal control so I've run the gamut and to tell you the truth, the single most important thing one can do is educate and try to help avoid the need for rescue in the first place! However, that will never happen 100% and kudo's to the rescue groups for stepping in when needed.


I know there was a thread here and I will go look for it again or add to this one. I was pretty busy this season so am a little late to add what I wanted to earlier!

[SandiF]

Re: dogs 101

My dog was a Chow Chow and the breed is prone to hip dysplasia, and weepy eyes due to ingrown eyelashes. After 10 years of living with him he came down with severe hip dysplasia and we had no choice but to put him to permanent sleep earlier this year.

Chow Chow get a bad rap as being mean vicious dogs but in reality they are aloof and reserved dogs who are protective of their small family. I had always noticed that Blackdog was cautious of strangers and very protective of us... especially me. The coolest dog I had the pleasure of knowing... No fuss... no frills and with a bark that commanded attention. His walks were broken into 3 different types which I figured out to be his exploratory walks, short brisk walks, and loooonnnggg strolls around town and through the parks.

[Nanook]

Re: dogs 101

I remember when you lost him. If your Blackdog made it to 10 by the time it all happened he was probably pretty well off, all around. The problem might not even have been able to be detected at young age. Some will go down the tubes by the time they are a few years or sadder yet, even younger.


A lot of the larger breeds are prone to hip dysplasia. It is a sad fact that backyard breeders do not take the time and the small expense to get the hips ex-rayed in breeding dogs before they proceed. This is not to say that OFA certified parents cannot produce a dysplastic pup, but the likelihood is significantly decreased.


My wish is that puppy buyers would only buy puppies from reputable breeders who have heal thesting done and certificates to display. The OFA (Orthapedic Association for Animals) certification is as important as anything, but how many do it?


If buyers would insist on the testing before purchasing a puppy, and go through a reputable breeder who would be able to tell you if the dog you want is a good fit for your lifestyle, then there would be much less need for rescue. Ah....such is life in my dream world.