login
Major OT (but looking for plenty o' feedback): Man's Best Friend
-
No new posts
| Other Resources | My Cup of Joe » Major OT (but looking for plenty o' feedback): Man's Best Friend | Rss Feed  |
 2005-11-03 8:38 AM |
Elite Veteran  831    Northern Va/Metro D.C. |  Subject: Major OT (but looking for plenty o' feedback): Man's Best FriendFriends, the gf and I are making the plunge for our first dog. We've customarily been assigned dog-sitting duties from friends and we feel this is now the appropriate time to make that giant leap. We're thinking with our living situation (spacious apt), to go for an english bulldog pup. From our research and talking to friends, they tire quickly and prefer to be cuddled and loved rather then fetch. Does anyone have any advice on bulldogs or for a first time dog-owner? Thanks. |
| 2005-11-03 9:45 AM in reply to: #277110 |
Master 1210 Saskatchewan | Subject: RE: Major OT (but looking for plenty o' feedback): Man's Best Friend This is a good site: http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/bulldog.htm Since you do have a lot of love to give and have the energy for a puppy, would you consider a rescue? There are lots of puppies needing a forever home. Go to Petfinder.com where you can find a certain breed in a certain area (that's where I found my girl, Frankie). Usually, these dogs are fostered so the foster-parents will have experience and know about the dog's temperament etc... |
| 2005-11-03 10:12 AM in reply to: #277110 |
Expert 882 Marietta, GA | Subject: RE: Major OT (but looking for plenty o' feedback): Man's Best Friend I second the suggestion for a shelter puppy or dog. From my experience, shelter dogs often are the most loving, because they didn't have the ideal start in life. When we bought our shelter dog 4 years ago, he was already potty trained and crate trained - even though he was a dog that the shelter rescued from death row. He's the most well behaved dog and we absolutely LOVE him! With so many dogs that want you to love them, it's hard to not adopt them!  On bulldogs specifically, one thing you want to watch for is their breathing. I know a lot of bulldogs have breathing problems due to the way their nose is. Bulldogs with a little longer nose tend to have less problems than the standard. They are great dogs though (I'm a Georgia Dawg fan, so I'm a little biased)! |
| 2005-11-03 10:14 AM in reply to: #277110 |
Veteran 302 Virginia | Subject: RE: Major OT (but looking for plenty o' feedback): Man's Best Friend I've owned several Bulldogs and have shown them. They are the kindest and gentlest breed, in my opinion. However, they have awful health issues and shortened life spans. They can NOT tolerate heat at all. If you can get past that, they are wonderful dogs. There is nothing more adorable than a bulldog pup wiggling. If it were not for man's inteference, this breed would not exist. The mother's pelvis is very small and narrow and the pup's head and shoulders are very wide. Many breeders have a vet deliver pups via C-section. Any specific questions, I'd be glad to answer. I finally quit owning them because it broke my heart watching the decline in their health so quickly after hitting around 7 or 8 years old. |
| 2005-11-03 10:25 AM in reply to: #277110 |
Champion 6786 Two seat rocket plane | Subject: RE: Major OT (but looking for plenty o' feedback): Man's Best Friend If you go with a bulldog-type-dog, keep lots of towels on hand. I had a boxer and he drooled on everything. My wife had a bulldog before that. They do require a lot of care and are prone to all kinds of health issues. But they are SO COOL! They form very tight attachments, and are fiercely loyal. |
| 2005-11-03 10:55 AM in reply to: #277206 |
Resident Curmudgeon 25290 The Road Back Gold member | Subject: RE: Major OT (but looking for plenty o' feedback): Man's Best Friend vadiver - 2005-11-03 9:14 AM I've owned several Bulldogs and have shown them. They are the kindest and gentlest breed, in my opinion. However, they have awful health issues and shortened life spans. They can NOT tolerate heat at all. If you can get past that, they are wonderful dogs. There is nothing more adorable than a bulldog pup wiggling. If it were not for man's inteference, this breed would not exist. The mother's pelvis is very small and narrow and the pup's head and shoulders are very wide. Many breeders have a vet deliver pups via C-section. Any specific questions, I'd be glad to answer. I finally quit owning them because it broke my heart watching the decline in their health so quickly after hitting around 7 or 8 years old. We've owned several pugs, close relatives to the bulldogs, and while they're the cutest things and have the best (hard-headed Shelter Edited by the bear 2005-11-03 10:57 AM |
) temperaments, they have these similar problems. I don't think one of the three we've owned lived to see seven years.| 2005-11-03 12:59 PM in reply to: #277110 |
Master 1670 Harvard, Illinois | Subject: RE: Major OT (but looking for plenty o' feedback): Man's Best Friend Good luck in your search for a dog. I would like to suggest a great book to read about raising a dog. Raising a Dog, by The Monks of New Skete. The book is about the German Shepherds they raised but it is relevant to any breed. Please avoid any petstore for a dog. They get they're dogs from puppymills and you will have nothing but problems. |
| 2005-11-03 1:10 PM in reply to: #277110 |
Giver 18427 | Subject: RE: Major OT (but looking for plenty o' feedback): Man's Best Friend Get a rescued racing greyhound. Best apartment dogs ever, and you'd be doing a good thing to boot. |
| 2005-11-03 3:42 PM in reply to: #277212 |
| Regular 112 NC | Subject: RE: Major OT (but looking for plenty o' feedback): Man's Best Friend ride_like_u_stole_it - 2005-11-03 11:25 AM If you go with a bulldog-type-dog, keep lots of towels on hand. I had a boxer and he drooled on everything. My wife had a bulldog before that. They do require a lot of care and are prone to all kinds of health issues. But they are SO COOL! They form very tight attachments, and are fiercely loyal. If you and your gf are thinking about kids in the future reread that last sentence. Several breads are great with kids only if the kids come first. Some breeds get jealous of the attention the kids get and turn violent towards them. My parents had to give away a daschund for this very reason. The house it was given to had kids and it was fine since the kids were there first. Just an FYI. I second the anaimal shelter vote. Both our dogs and our cat came from shelters. All three love our 16 mnth old duaghter. |
| 2005-11-03 3:47 PM in reply to: #277110 |
Veteran 302 Virginia | Subject: RE: Major OT (but looking for plenty o' feedback): Man's Best Friend I've never heard of an English Bulldog not liking kids, whether they came before or after the dog. In fact, I have a vivid memory of one of my bulldogs laying on his back while a kid drug him across a kitchen floor by the back leg. They may look fierce, but they are very gentle. Great dogs for kids. I also agree to not go to a pet store. Find a local breeder and be sure to ask to see both parents. You can get a feel of temperment from them. Good luck and if you get one, please post a pic. Although I quit owning them, I still have a real soft spot for them. |
| 2005-11-03 4:30 PM in reply to: #277110 |
| Elite Veteran 1817 Cedar Rapids, Iowa | Subject: RE: Major OT (but looking for plenty o' feedback): Man's Best Friend What about a French bulldog? Talk about CUTE!!!! And sweet and lovable and low maintenance......I don't have one but it's one I've looked at for the far distant future after I'm done grieving. |
| 2005-11-03 4:42 PM in reply to: #277110 |
 Extreme Veteran 1491 northeast Ohio | Subject: RE: Major OT (but looking for plenty o' feedback): Man's Best Friend If you want to make your veterinarian happy, get a bulldog. I am a vet and all it takes is one bulldog and all the related health issues to pay the office bills for the year. OK, I am kind of kidding, but as mentioned above, some of them have lots of health issues. On the other hand, they are rarely mean and most have really really sweet dispositions. Very much clowns too! Diane |
| 2005-11-03 5:30 PM in reply to: #277110 |
Champion 5183 Wisconsin | Subject: RE: Major OT (but looking for plenty o' feedback): Man's Best Friend another vote for rescue dogs. both of ours came from shelters as puppies, one is a husky /shepherd (HUGE, but thinks he is a lap dog) and one is beagle/pointer/foxhound (?) who is adorable and loving and a very great napping cuddle buddy, and both are great with kids. the beagle one especially seems to understnad babies, she instinctively mellows out and once when my friends' 18 month old was on the floor crawling around, she followed him, prodding him along gently with her nose... soo cute, I love my pups. paying money for dogs when so many need homes is hard to stomach... and mixed breeds typically have way fewer health problems (less heartbreak, less $$) ---backing away slowly from soapbox |
| 2005-11-03 5:49 PM in reply to: #277110 |
COURT JESTER 12230 ROCKFORD, IL | Subject: RE: Major OT (but looking for plenty o' feedback): Man's Best Friend ANOTHER vote for rescue dogs. Just look at the cute face in the avatar. Pointer/Beagle mix and wonderful around our 10 month old. Since he's a mix of hunting dogs he make a great running coach. Active breeds can be apartment pets as long as you can make them a running partner and they get in good walks. Happy Choosing |
| 2005-11-03 6:02 PM in reply to: #277110 |
Expert 1213 Los Gatos, CA | Subject: RE: Major OT (but looking for plenty o' feedback): Man's Best Friend The topic of breed is personal.....most important advice I pass out is to get a healthy dog.....we picked up a rescue golden retriever pup 6-7 years ago who we found out later had severe epilepsy. I kid you not, we were out well over $10K in vet bills over a 2-3 year period, we finally put him down at the tender age of 3 1/2. There wasn't a night we didn't go to bed wondering if he would have another seizure. We still have an 11 year old golden who also runs a healthy vet budget with various ailments. You need to do a ton of homework to find well bred animals. Not to scare you off, I think dogs enrich your life, but it is serious business. |
| Other Resources | My Cup of Joe » Major OT (but looking for plenty o' feedback): Man's Best Friend | Rss Feed |
|
|
|
View profile
Add to friends
Go to training log
Go to race log
Send a message
View album
CONNECT WITH FACEBOOK