Is my Family Ready for the Responsibility of Caring for a Dog? - Page 2 - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

troutman · 05-02-2013, 02:06 PM

My parents have a Labradoodle. He is a friendly, pleasant dog. He is also quite big, and a bit hyper. He can knock down and scare smaller children, when he just wants to play. He lives on a ranch where he has lots of room to run. He is depressed when left alone.

Old Yeller · 05-02-2013, 02:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nfotiu

Pet Insurance rant

Let me guess... Trupanion?

nfotiu · 05-02-2013, 02:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by swayze11

who did you go with if you don't mind me asking?

vpi.

DFO · 05-02-2013, 02:27 PM

I'd be wary of the doodle breeds - smart but act like hyperactive idiots most of the time.

TorqueDog · 05-02-2013, 03:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by First Lady

Good to see someone asking the questions and giving pet ownership serious consideration beforehand.

Saw this on Kijiji

2 weeks!! and they are looking to re-home. Pathetic.

I can't help but wonder if the seller isn't trying to make a quick buck on re-selling the pup.

This thread makes me a bit sad. My folks lost their 7 year old Shepherd/Collie/Retriever mix Guinness this past Saturday to what was suspected to be a brain tumour. Had to have him put down. What makes it worse is that it was actually my dog that I'd bought for them to replace me when I moved out of the house, and I think that made it even harder on them.

Spoiler!

NomNomNom · 05-02-2013, 03:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Displaced Flames fan

No, you're not ready. Your kids say they will help, but they won't. The job will become yours.

I love dogs, but I will never own one again. They tie you down more than your kids do.

We'll help this time. Seriously! We swear.

Northendzone · 05-02-2013, 07:37 PM

Thanks all, a lot of you have confirmed most of what I was thinking.

My question is if my son was to leave for school at 8 am, and be home by 3 and take the dog for a walk before leaving and as soon as he got home, would that be too long to have the dog in an oversized kennel or enclosure?

First Lady · 05-02-2013, 07:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Northendzone

Thanks all, a lot of you have confirmed most of what I was thinking.

My question is if my son was to leave for school at 8 am, and be home by 3 and take the dog for a walk before leaving and as soon as he got home, would that be too long to have the dog in an oversized kennel or enclosure?

I read somewhere (from a trainer) a good guide is 1 hour for every month of age. Starting at 2, to a max of 10.

So an 8 week old pup you wouldn't crate or leave alone more than 2 hrs at a time and at a year old, no more than 10 hours.

It is purely a guide. You really have to take the dogs needs into consideration.

Our younger one goes to daycare; but our older guy is more like a cat (think Garfield) and he is happy to sleep 18 hours a day.

Minnie · 05-02-2013, 08:24 PM

The owner of the grooming/dog daycare my daughter is helping out at, picked up a stray dog last night, that was running around. Apparently its owner lives in Calgary and a friend out here was 'looking after it' but it got out.

They kept it at their house last night and brought it with them to the centre today, and called around to all the vet clinics, the town and the City with his information. Town came and picked it up and took it to the town's kennels. City phoned this afternoon and had spoken with the owner who was apparently not at all concerned and would 'come out in a few days and pick up the dog.'

*smh*

Dog has been crying for it's owner since last night, pacing and such. But hey, leave it at a kennel for a few days, rather than pick it up immediately or get the friend who was 'looking after it' to at least come fetch it.

Stupid dog owner.

Cowperson · 05-02-2013, 08:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Northendzone

Thanks all, a lot of you have confirmed most of what I was thinking.

My question is if my son was to leave for school at 8 am, and be home by 3 and take the dog for a walk before leaving and as soon as he got home, would that be too long to have the dog in an oversized kennel or enclosure?

Can you afford doggy daycare?

I wouldn't leave a solo pooch alone that long consistently. Or a pair of them.

Cats would be better for your family. They gravitate in and out of your life as it suits them whereas a dog needs to belong and is consistently underfoot. There is more involved with a dog and more restrictions on your lifestyle.

However, if you can send your dog to a good daycare during those working hours, they can fit in your lifestyle and home.

Our two Goldens and four cats are never alone longer than about three hours at the longest. But, that's just the way we roll.

Cowperson

GGG · 05-02-2013, 08:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by First Lady

Good to see someone asking the questions and giving pet ownership serious consideration beforehand.

Saw this on Kijiji

2 weeks!! and they are looking to re-home. Pathetic.

I would echo many of the comments already made. Our second dog is very active and he now goes to daycare twice a week for the extra excercise and socialization.

Another option you might want to consider is fostering. There a many rescues and many are in need of foster homes. It's a way for you to get an idea of what it's like to have a dog; without taking on the full financial and long term responsibility.

I think these people should be commended for realizing it isnt for them before they ruin the dog after a year of kenneling all the time and not socializing their dog. Doing the right thing two weeks late is still the right thing.

First Lady · 05-02-2013, 08:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GGG

I think these people should be commended for realizing it isnt for them before they ruin the dog after a year of kenneling all the time and not socializing their dog. Doing the right thing two weeks late is still the right thing.

Oh sure, better late than never.

I still maintain though the preferable thing to do is before acquiring the pet.

Is also odd that they didn't simply return it to the breeder.

Northendzone · 05-02-2013, 09:36 PM

Cow person, we could afford doggy daycare, however, it just becomes another expense I am not looking for. And my wife suggested that some type of doodle dog can cost more than $1,000.....seems to me that this is a bigger money pit than owning a home.Thanks all, you gave some great insight and perspective

sclitheroe · 05-02-2013, 11:23 PM

Our dog is only alone from about 9am to 3pm, so not as long as the OP suggested his potential dog would be, but I just wanted to point out that all breeds of dog sleep, on average, 13 hours a day. Much of that daytime period that you're worried about the dog being alone, it's sleeping.

This obviously varies from dog to dog and breed to breed, but I personally don't feel that leaving a dog alone for 6-7 hours is all that hard on them, if they are well behaved and you spend the time ramping up the hours in the early weeks of ownership so that the dog doesn't permanently associate your departure with extreme stress and anxiety.

That's been my experience, anyways, with a Wheaten Terrier.

InSutterWeTrust · 05-03-2013, 05:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Northendzone

Cow person, we could afford doggy daycare, however, it just becomes another expense I am not looking for. And my wife suggested that some type of doodle dog can cost more than $1,000.....seems to me that this is a bigger money pit than owning a home.Thanks all, you gave some great insight and perspective

That right there says it all, if owning a Dog to you is a money pit, please do not go out and get a Dog! A Dog should be part of your family to bring happiness and joy to your family.