Feed it to the beast, obviously!Originally Posted by Gojive
oh and Im sure if you ask filthycute she'll recommend Spaniels.
Feed it to the beast, obviously!Originally Posted by Gojive
My neighbour has a scottie dog that drives me mad, he barks all the time mainly at nothing you could have him on trial? please!!!!!Originally Posted by TiggsTours
RK, you forgot the knee high boots!!Originally Posted by Rhythm King
Seriously though ESG, a friend once told me, if you're not ready for kids, then you're not ready for a dog. So......anything else you want to tell us?
recommendations for dogs?
I find a low heat for 30-40 minutes (depending on the size of the canine), with a lime and ginger baste is normally best. Forget the microwave, it just doesn't do them justice
Hee hee.Originally Posted by Mostlysane
Cocktail limes, or the regular sort?
That's just sick!Originally Posted by Mostlysane
(A low heat for 30-40 minutes isn't going to cook a large rodent, let alone a dog).
I would recommend spaniels.....especially Cavilier King Charles Spaniels, however.........Originally Posted by Dreadful Scathe
On this occassion i was going to ask if you had considered a retired greyhound. Despite all the racing they do, they are actually happy-to-stay-at-home dogs who would be more than happy to laze around the house with you and go for occassional walks. That means you can have a nice big dog with little dog features
fc x
This website may help you decide. I liked this bit
No dog likes to be left alone for long periods of time, greyhounds are no different, although being so VERY lazy they will sleep most of the day even when you are there. They are not 'in your face' dogs, they won't nag for attention....again far too much effort.....but as they settle in and learn how to play you can interact much more . As they have missed out on puppy hood many regress (nicely) into it as their character develops once in the home.
Retired Greyhounds
I just wrote a huge, long reply, then my bloody internet connection died!
Right, let's try again.
I've got a border collie, and I live in a flat in a city. Works really well! She gets at least 2 hours of mad running around/ training/ games in the park every day, and if I have to leave her for a long(ish) time, I have two neighbours who adore her, who'll let her out or even walk her for me. They also look after her when I go away on dance weekenders, or take her out for me if I'm sick, or my back hurts too much to walk!
Troll (yes, that's her name...) is very quiet in the house when she's alone. She's put in the bedroom, where she feels safe and comfortable, and is not allowed to run riot around the flat when I'm away. If I leave her to have the run of the place when I'm out, she feels insecure, barks at things she sees outside the livingroom window, barks at noises behind the front door, etc. In the bedroom she's totally quiet - all my neighbours are very impressed! And she doesn't chew on anything she's not allowed - I always make sure she's got toys to chew on in the room when I leave her, as well as plenty of fresh water. However, most days I take her to work with me, via the park!
Small breeds are not necessarily more suitable for city life than big breeds. A lot of smaller breeds are very highly strung and yappy, as well as highly energetic in the house. Lots of bigger breeds are very quiet and docile in the house, and you hardly notice they're there, apart from when you stumble across them as they're sprawled out on the floor! Make sure you get a breed that's calm, adaptable, friendly towards people and doesn't require constant attention and excesive amounts of exercise. Greyhounds are actually highly affectionate, calm and friendly dogs, and they require little exercise!! True! A couple of good runs a day is plenty for them! However, they might not be everyone's cup of tea...
My brother's got a golden retriver and a briard puppy. Both are big dogs (golden retriver is going to look small next to the briard when it grows up), but both are actually very quiet in the house, as long as they get their requred amount of exercise. He's got someone who comes in the middle of the day to walk the dogs, as both he and his wife are at work all day. One of my neighbours in the block next to me has a big golden retriver, too, and it's completely quiet when she's out, and very happy and friendly.
Just think carefully before you choose a dog. Read doggie books, don't just listen to advice from friends. The breed they like and that suits their lifestyle might not be the ideal dog for you!
Consider the following: How much exercise does the breed require per day, and how much time do you have to provide it. How much grooming does the dog need? Will you do the grooming yourself, or get it done by a professional dog groomer on a regular basis? Is the breed adaptable, has it got a calm and even temper, does it like people (and children!!). Is it a highly intelligent breed, that needs lots of mental stimulation to keep sane? Who will look after the dog when you're away for the weekend or on holiday? Do you have the time and energy it takes to house-train a puppy, and teach it the basic obedience it needs?
Also: Are you allowed to have pets in your building. Do your neighbours like/ mind dogs? Is it very noisy where you live/ heavy traffic etc, and will this be a suitable environment for the type of dog you'd want/a puppy? Will you be prepared to pay all the vet bills, will you get insurance? I strongly recommend insurance - without it it's no way I couls have been able to afford the knee operation Troll needed in May; £1500!!!
Right, after thinking about all these things, reading up on breeds, discussing it with your friends etc - talk to a dog breeder!
Good luck!
Cathrine
You beat me to it!!Originally Posted by filthycute
Cocktail of course, there's no point in stocking up on the others, you're not going to be able to use them with your tequila slammer aperatif while you wait for the crackling to form.Originally Posted by El Salsero Gringo
Good point, probably need a Chihuahua then. I was on holiday in peru earlier this year. We had guinea pig in one restaurant (it's a local delicacy). Horrible it is too. Bit like duck with crackling. The alpaca kebabs were much nicer.Originally Posted by David Franklin
Wee mix up mongrels are also great (though can be quite intelligent and therefore bored more easily). One option is also to get a dog from an animal shelter. We did that, and got a terrier mix (very intelligent she could figure most things out, including how to climb over fences! Also well behaved and only barked if the doorbell rang) - no-one else would have wanted her as she was very bedraggled looking and thin. She was a wonderful family pet for almost 17 years. Of course such a dog can take a bit more work at first, but then so does a puppy.Originally Posted by Little Monkey
Was in St Tropez one time, and were astounded by the number of tiny dogs, often being carried rather than tiring out their poor little legs. and all with little jackets on to keep them warm...Originally Posted by Mostlysane
Bryony said, "I wonder what would happen if we took one home to meet the cat?"
I replied, "He'd look up at us, and say 'Thanks for the food, but how do I get the wrapper off?'"
Originally Posted by David Franklin
I was in courcheval skiing a couple of years ago and a lady there had a nappy on her poodle. Best bit was when she took it into the ladies loo to change it.
Golden retrievers are some of my favourite. They need to be walked three times a day. They also love to swim and would run straight for the water if you're near a lake or river. These dogs love to be around people more than other dogs and are out to please their owner. They are also very affectionate and good with kids.Originally Posted by El Salsero Gringo
I was about to suggest retired greyhounds or whippets aswelll. Lovely natured dogs; take them out and give them a good walk twice a day and the rest of the time they're really lazy. Just need to watch out with ex-racers....might need to be muzzled outside. Not because they go for people, but because they've been taught to go for anything that's small and fuzzy....rabbits, cats, small dogs...lolOriginally Posted by filthycute
Thor
Afraid I'm a fanatic when it comes to pets. Having grown up with different types of pets, dogs have always been a consistent theme (retrievers and terriers) and I lament the fact that I won't let myself have one at the moment because of my domestic situation.
I appease myself with offers to take care of other peoples whether they be parents, family and friends...
As to your question - hmmm... depends on how big your flat is. Personally I'd not advise it... for the dogs sake. I know it sounds soft but without stimulation from others sources any animal gets depressed with their own company and they resort to abnormal behavioural traits such as soiling due to anxiety, chewing everything under the sun and barking... or couch potatoes... (I'm asuming you are away from the house for 8-10hrs per day)
If you're serious about this and can give it as much attention (irrespective of breed) as you'd give to a 8-10yr child (with some imagination here), then do it... remember you'll have to think about feeding, walking (at least 40-50mins per day), vets bills (unless you're with pets plan) and can invest the emotional responsibility that comes with something which needs the attention you'd invest in a small child - remember, a dog matures at the age of four.
As with all animals... there aren't bad pets - JUST BAD OWNERS!!! Dogs in particular pick up on subliminal influences... they recognise when you're upset, angry or scared... and react accordingly. If dog bites you... then it's a last resort - often out of panic as it's previous warning signals of tail between legs, ears back, eyes dilate, hackles rising and bearing teeth have been missed. And even then, it will nip and then back off. The problems start when this happens repeatedly... and incidently Labradors are responsible for more attacks on humans than any other breed.
A dog is looking for a confident owner whom it trusts... it's a pack thing where you are the alpha male who will lead and defend it. From my experience, a good test is whether the dog will allow me to remove something from it's feeding bowl when it is eating... if it snaps at you then you know it doesn't view you as 'leader'... and you're going to need to assert yourself.
good luck...
ESG, no need to get a dog...
Clicky (may be NSFW)
Brilliant!!!Originally Posted by LMC
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