color questions

Very true, GeeRome.

I guess their is a tendency to assume that its less likely that an unregistered breeder would test for all the things that you raise, AND have dogs that have proven temperment.

That's not to say registration is a guarantee, of course, - just more likely - my opinion.

So you are correct in the reminder about generalizing.

For myself, I love my dogs, but I do know my dog is not the "sweetest and most lovely dog ever, is super smart and friendly"!!! :wink2: I know my dogs - love 'em to bits, but sometimes wouldn't wish them on anybody!!! :wink2::lol::lol:
 
If I get another sheltie I would want a tri or a merle. The only thing that makes me think maybe I shouldn't get another dog is the stress level for the dog I already have. If I do decide to get another one though (sometime in early spring at the earliest) I'm going to go for a shelter/rescue sheltie. I think maybe this time a tri or a blue merle if I can find one. :biggrin2: I wish I had space so I could have a "coat of every color" too. I think two is my limit though. No more puppies for me. I want a dog that is at least a few years old.
 
Smudge said:
If I get another sheltie I would want a tri or a merle. The only thing that makes me think maybe I shouldn't get another dog is the stress level for the dog I already have. If I do decide to get another one though (sometime in early spring at the earliest) I'm going to go for a shelter/rescue sheltie. I think maybe this time a tri or a blue merle if I can find one. :biggrin2: I wish I had space so I could have a "coat of every color" too. I think two is my limit though. No more puppies for me. I want a dog that is at least a few years old.
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Jessica, you've had a nasty experience. Don't let that stop you going forward. Consider it "lessons learned" and move on. You are doing your best for Smudge and I'm sure that you will do your best with any other furkid you bring home.

Don't turn your back on another baby. But if you are thinking about another. I brought Indy home at 10 months old when Bacca was also 10 months old. Despite the fact that I had two unneutuered males in the house for a couple of months, it turned out to be great mix. Because they are only 1 week apart in age, they match each other in energy.

That being said, you only have to here the tales of others here, Ania for example, of introducing a puppy to a slightly older dog. It can work!!!!

Hugs to you!
 
Necessary Things

Well said GeeRome and keep up the research. It should go unsaid that a breeder would be as responsible as those you mention. Theresa, Sage and I traveled miles and miles looking for help for our boy. All because an irresponsible breeder, God rest her soul and for no fault of her own, shouldn't have been in the business.
 
Puppies and older dogs can work very well. The relationship is just completely different. Dogs of the same age often view each other as peers and play together, and learn together. Aztec and Hannah were "soul mates" for lack of a better word. (She was his age, jack russell mix) They did everything together and truly loved eachother. They met as little pups, and really clicked. I have never seen two dogs that were such good friends.

Laika is older than Aztec, and the relationship is much more a mother/son one. She corrects him, and is rough on him...yet when he was a pup she offered him her food. She watched him to make him behave, and they are comfortable with eachother. They never play with eachother though. Maybe once a year Laika will get crazy and play with him. It is a lot less obnoxious than a equal age pair, but it isn't fun to watch either!
 
For me the issue would be is bringing another dog into the house going to cause Smudge stress and therefore make him have a mange episode? As for the puppy vs. dog it's really just my preference. I like puppies. They're cute to look at, but boy are they a hassle! :lol:
 
Puppies & older dogs. I also can say first hand that it can & does work.With a foster puppy we had,and I'm not singling her out,but she was deaf,and she looked to Earnhardt for comfort & many times guidance.It was so obvious.And him being the alpha male in the group then (four fosters) plus him. All were various ages from puppy to 3 years. Danni was always close to Earnhardts side. She could'nt hear,not even the loudest clap of lightening.

We never had a problem with Earnhardt accepting a foster here. I think he knew that they were here for a reason. One of the most obvious things Earnhardt would do,was when all of them were eating meals,each one having thier own space on the sunporch,he would not eat until all of the others were done. It was as if,he was making sure they ate thier meals. If one of them approached him,while he was eating,he would share,if he thought I was'nt looking.

Now with a blind cat,and Trapp coming home soon,we are hopeful that Trapp will sense something differant with Bumper,as Earnhardt did.
 
mbfrench said:
Now with a blind cat,and Trapp coming home soon,we are hopeful that Trapp will sense something differant with Bumper,as Earnhardt did.
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If it makes you feel better I've never owned a sheltie that didn't like cats. Gizmo's best friend was my cat (his name was Tuna). Gizmo would chase Tuna sometimes, but it was all for fun. Smudge will see the neighbor's cat (it's the biggest cat I've ever seen!) and stand at the front gate and whine.
 
Smudge said:
For me the issue would be is bringing another dog into the house going to cause Smudge stress and therefore make him have a mange episode? As for the puppy vs. dog it's really just my preference. I like puppies. They're cute to look at, but boy are they a hassle! :lol:
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If you can find a breeder/rescue close, then he could meet him on neutral turf a few times before you brought him home. Pierre met Duncan twice (that's all I had time for, but the breeder would have been happy to have us over more... she is in love with her 'Grandog' Pierre). When we brought him home, he had a moment of "Seriously, you didn't actually accidentally bring that thing? Okay, come on, let's take it back..." That lasted all of a few minutes. After that, Pierre did some possessive posturing for my attention, but I let him know that he shouldn't and that Duncan being around meant good things (petting them at the same time and then turning to just Pierre) and gave him special alone time (we have at least one walk a day with each of them separately). Now (only 7 days later), I can hardly separate them. They love to play and I monitor to make sure it isn't too ruff (haha... sorry, couldn't help myself). Now my worry is that Duncan could bond more to Pierre and not us! But we make special play/training times and we'll be fine. Pierre really is better off with a friend to play with all day. The cats were just not up to it.
 
I'm heavily considering all the pros and cons. My first obstacle is seeing if I can get a bigger fenced in area. We have a HUGE yard, and I've never really understood why it wasn't fenced in. Smudge's little area is just until I can get something bigger. The area he's in now is definately not big enough for two grown dogs. I haven't run this idea by my parent's yet though. If your grown child wanted to improve your home by paying for the fence themself you wouldn't say no, right?

Right? :uhoh:
 
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