Backyard advice

It sucks that you have a beautiful sheltie available and these issues to deal with.,but I agree with everyone else... sounds like if you bring in a puppy you may not be welcome as well. Bad situation to start with. Wait till you can get your own place and then let the Sheltie Fever take over. :)
 
I also do not think you should get a puppy now. Wait until you get your own place and no a puppy should not be left out in a yard by itself. Too much can happen to it. I don't leave my Danny, who is ten, out alone without my keeping an eye on him. I think down the road you will be a great fur baby mom but just not right now. Your posting this question shows you care what is best for the puppy and value the forum members opinions.
 
I agree with everyone else; no dog should be left unattended in a yard all day, especially a small puppy. Predatory birds are a huge issue, and where I live, coyotes as well. A small ball of fluff just looks like dinner to those guys.
 
I completely agree with everyone. Right after I shut my computer I reminded myself of the possible threats of eagles and coyotes and such. Especially in that area. I also firmly decided that I won't get him if I live with my Brother and Sis-in-law. It's just not right. I was keen on the idea of just adopting their dog while I was with them. Actually got myself excited about it. Then I saw the picture of the sheltie puppy from the breeder and kind of lost it for a second. Sorry guys :lol:

My parents saw the picture of the pup too and want me to live at my own house and go to community college there. I think that they just want a dog without the expenses. I know that this would be a better option for the puppy. He'd have others to help take care of him. But, I guess deep down I also know that I should wait. It hurts. That's for sure. Yet that's usually how it goes. The words of the wise are like cattle prods (verse from the Bible). I'm such a dog-oriented person. I haven't had a canine buddy of my own in almost two years now and it's starting to get depressing. Oh well...
 
sheltieluvr6 said:
I completely agree with everyone. Right after I shut my computer I reminded myself of the possible threats of eagles and coyotes and such. Especially in that area. I also firmly decided that I won't get him if I live with my Brother and Sis-in-law. It's just not right. I was keen on the idea of just adopting their dog while I was with them. Actually got myself excited about it. Then I saw the picture of the sheltie puppy from the breeder and kind of lost it for a second. Sorry guys :lol:

My parents saw the picture of the pup too and want me to live at my own house and go to community college there. I think that they just want a dog without the expenses. I know that this would be a better option for the puppy. He'd have others to help take care of him. But, I guess deep down I also know that I should wait. It hurts. That's for sure. Yet that's usually how it goes. The words of the wise are like cattle prods (verse from the Bible). I'm such a dog-oriented person. I haven't had a canine buddy of my own in almost two years now and it's starting to get depressing. Oh well...
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Truly, a wise and mature decision! I thought: "Uh, oh" when I read your post, and agree with all the previous posters, esp. Justicemom. It's just not the right situation, I'm so sorry!

Have you considered volunteering at a shelter? Just walking and cuddling dogs would be so great for you and for them. You would be doing a good thing while getting your fur-fix. I know it's not the same as having your own Sheltie pup to raise, but it might help and you'd be bringing happiness into some needy dogs' lives.
 
Give your self a pat on the back for doing the responsible thing and passing on this puppy. As others have said, the right time and the right dog will be in your future - you just have to wait for it.
I wouldn't be too trusting of a breeder that would consider putting a dog into this situation either so that should be something that you think about when you are in the position to get a dog.
 
I understand your need for a dog, I too went without one for over a year (when I moved out of my parents house). I'm glad you realize that the situation you are in right now is not a good one to bring a new dog into. I agree that volunteering at a shelter might be a good idea!
 
sheltieluvr6 said:
I completely agree with everyone. Right after I shut my computer I reminded myself of the possible threats of eagles and coyotes and such. Especially in that area. I also firmly decided that I won't get him if I live with my Brother and Sis-in-law. It's just not right. I was keen on the idea of just adopting their dog while I was with them. Actually got myself excited about it. Then I saw the picture of the sheltie puppy from the breeder and kind of lost it for a second. Sorry guys :lol:

My parents saw the picture of the pup too and want me to live at my own house and go to community college there. I think that they just want a dog without the expenses. I know that this would be a better option for the puppy. He'd have others to help take care of him. But, I guess deep down I also know that I should wait. It hurts. That's for sure. Yet that's usually how it goes. The words of the wise are like cattle prods (verse from the Bible). I'm such a dog-oriented person. I haven't had a canine buddy of my own in almost two years now and it's starting to get depressing. Oh well...
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I hear you. It is hard to make the right decisions. When I started to go to college I was without a dog for 4 yrs!:eek2:. But as hard as it was I know it was the right decision. I moved so much and it was difficult to find a place I could afford without a dog. When I finally did get my "own dog" the end of my first year of vet school. I was fortunate to live in a house but after I graduated I was forced to live in an apartment for 6 yrs. Luckily I was in the finanical position to afford it. Pet rent was an extra $25 a month/each pet(I had a cat too) and the apartment was not cheap itself.

You are doing the right thing by asking questions and thinking things though, you will find your sheltie when the time is right.
 
Yeah it's the right thing to do. I know that I'll have a dog eventually. Heck, I know that I will have many. After all, being a future dog trainer, I will have those opportunities.

And yes I do volunteer at a humane society. The one near my college is a good hour bus ride away though. They don't have a place to just sit with the dog without someone looking over your back. One of the dog trainers there always watched me carefully even though the head trainer thought I could make a great career with dogs. When I move to my brother's house, we're going to try to get me a job with the local vet. He needs assistants (from what we hear). I'll just wait, as hard it is.
 
Glad you decided to wait. Did the breeder know you were thinking if leaving it out all day? Or your family's stance on the dog? I got 2 puppies last year and they are like having children. Not in the sense of how you feel about them-but the time, energy, and money that goes into it. Just dropped $500 on one of mine at the vet today for upset stomach testing. If I was still in school I wouldn't have been able to handle it.

Shelties are one of those breeds where you just don't leave them outside alone. This is how bad behaviors like excessive barking are created. He'd be difficult to housetrain also since crate training would have been out of the question.

People can be quite cruel. My coworkers schipperke was poisoned to death when someone threw rat poison mixed with dog food over their fence because they got sick of the dog barking. Scary how your oen backyard can be such sn unsafe place.

So yes, after you make up a list of the pros and cons, the cons definitely were heavier! Just keep your chin up, and when the time is right, you will know, because you won't even have to question it like you did this time.
 
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