Thread: Should I get a dog.

Originally Posted by rossi.45

get 2

No..................... we got 2 pups (as SWMBO was determined they not be lonely when we weren't home). NEVER EVER AGAIN

It has taken a long time for ME to be top dog. in their pack and caused many many many issuses. Now that they are 7 peace is reining in the house but the first two years were a battle.

When the time comes for replacement I will be looking for an older dog that perhaps didn't quite make the grade for trialing which can have a good life with me doing some hunting of many things, some sleeping on the couch and generally being my "best mate" and keeping me company on the hill

Dogs are a commitment that is for sure but being dogless is something I could not be

PS the local council will not let us have more than 2 dogs in town, pity they cant do the same rule for those with children!!

Originally Posted by mikee

No..................... we got 2 pups (as SWMBO was determined they not be lonely when we weren't home). NEVER EVER AGAIN

It has taken a long time for ME to be top dog. in their pack and caused many many many issuses. Now that they are 7 peace is reining in the house but the first two years were a battle.

i cannot imagine the situation where 2 pups don't know who TOP Dog is . . its me .. . or there is some negative reinforcement coming their way until they understand.

Originally Posted by rossi.45

i cannot imagine the situation where 2 pups don't know who TOP Dog is . . its me .. . or there is some negative reinforcement coming their way until they understand.

Amen.
Our son has a 5 month old Husky pup that does what it likes with him. When I speak it listens because I've made it that way. She recently went through the food aggression thing, I was outside when she got fed and our youngest decided to go and pat her, the dog growled and I growled louder and more viciously, backed her off her food and growled till she rolled over then got the daughter to pick up the dogs food and walk away then bring it back, when she put it down the dog went to snatch at the food so I growled again. I kept that up for a few days and now anyone in the household can go take her food at any time.
The biggest problem I find is people who have a "fur baby" instead of a dog, they treat it like an equal and dogs don't like that. They need a leader for their pack and will try to take that roll if you let them.

Originally Posted by Maarty

Amen.
The biggest problem I find is people who have a "fur baby" instead of a dog, they treat it like an equal and dogs don't like that. They need a leader for their pack and will try to take that roll if you let them.

a couple of days ago i hear this woman calling her dog . .. it goes on for about 10 minutes, this constant pleading noise. So eventually i go outside, maybe she needs help.
The dog, a nice lookn 12 month old foxy cross is trotting around at the end of the block ... totally ignoring her, i suggest she goes to the dog. . . nope.
Then the dog sees a cat and chases it and bails it up a fence a couple of houses down . .. still no response except the constant calling . .. which is comes across as part nagging and pleading
Eventually the dog comes back to much praise and patting etc . . . . being the helpful type i suggest different strategies which may help . . no way ' he's a good dog except for the running away and chasing cats ' she said.
Sadly i let myself down here . .. instead of telling her a story about how a friend of mine had the same problem and this is how they fixed it - my partner said i should try this method . .. i said your the problem and stop acting like a mother and more like a dog owner.
Nice lady, she's a teacher at the local school for many years. . . i shook my head and walked away . . reminds me of the time i saw half a dozen teachers standing around lookn at a tent without a clue what to do . . . people

i dont know mate it sounds like your keen enough but you might have uderestimated the tasks your setting yourself.
it sounds like you do long hours and whether you,l have the time patience energy to do the sort of training required for what your contemplating doing with the dog
only you can decide but at least your asking better that than the dog ends up paying for a good intention not able to be followed thru.

Originally Posted by Sideshow

reminds me of the time i saw half a dozen teachers standing around lookn at a tent without a clue what to do . . . people

Funny I've seen that as well[/QUOTE]
Gets scary when you tell kids where milk comes from and most answer the Fridge.......sorry I know off topic

Hi Ricochet
Hope you get a dog that suits you and what you want to do with it (hunt & SAR) won't be easy to find the right one to do both but good luck
To train a SAR dog will be very rewarding but very time consuming may be 99% training 1% deployment so be patient and don't get frustated
The huntng side of things should be easy enough. Try and find a dog with a natural ability
If this is your first time owning a working dog make sure that you are the boss and it will be your best mate don't have it the other way round
Most important thing to do is have fun and enjoy being out there with your dog