picking a new dog in the future

I think it's a real crap shoot whether you could get a good hunting dog from a rescue situation. If that is important to you, I would bite the bullet and spend the money for a dog that comes from hunting bloodlines (not pets.) The chocolate Lab pup I almost bought was from a guy who hunted over his dogs.

Check out the Puget Sound Labrador Retriever Association site.

Warren
 
gunny dont get me wrong I like the devil hound stigma, but a rot would have been a better mascot for us.

I looked up german short hairs on the net and this was the first thing I found
william_wegman_puppies_1.thumb.jpg
 
Iv'e got to chime in here and plug the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel.

I've had dogs pretty much all my life including: two Brittanies, a Springer, an English Setter, Yellow Lab, but have never anything like Toby, my Cavalier. They're a remarkable breed combing lap-dog, athelete, ultimate travel companion, small size, guard dog, without the yappiness and hyperness of many smaller breeds. They get along with everyone and everything (including cats) and as long as they're not alone, they're happy as a clam. The pups are expensive though; make sure you find a good breeder cause some of these can have medical issues.

Toby loves the boat. He has his spot behind the rear seat and rarely moves from it. I've got a couple of pics in my album.
 
Some folks are dog lovers and some aren't. We have had dogs on all of our boats--mostly labs--took one over 30,000 miles, including across the Atlantic. We had two on another boat and they sailed 35,000 miles with us. Our most recent dogs were all rescued dogs--and we are down to one currently--who had major surgery yesterday.

Properly trained, a dog will do well on a boat. They are great companions on the night watches--never complain! Also good security!

We had a Border Collie, Chow/shepard, and Miss Priss on our CD 22 all at once--no problems. So it boils down what your comitment is to the animals.

Not sure what we will get next--but it will be a small dog. As we get older, the bigger dogs are just more than we can lift, which we have to do at times. (although we had a "dog elevator" on our Trawler--which used the dinghy hoist to bring the elderly lab aboard.
 
Re: potty breaks for boat dogs. Our Ike is a small dog and he has already learned that the pee pads that we keep by the door are an acceptable alternative when the great outdoors are so near yet so far. (Pee pads are available at Petsmart, etc. but are also sold for cribs, etc.) So I expect to be able to stay at sea for several days with Ike using the pee pads. A big dog pees big pees (volume & area) so might overwhelm the capacity and size of your standard pee pad. This is something we discussed at length with the breeder before buying Ike.

Warren
 
starcrafttom":1v35731n said:
Susan, dam it, how many time do I have to tell you no nicknames on the net
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L. B. ?.................cute! :roll:

And, I would have missed it, had you not called it to my attention!

(Thanks Susan, for sharing info with his brat budddies.. :smiled
 
ppriest":zjsglqr3 said:
It may sound like I'm trying to promote Golden Retrievers, but in fact what I want to encourage is the use of a Recue organization since these folks (many of them volunteers) are focussed on finding good homes for "their" dogs, not just unloading them. Expect to be asked to cover some expenses, usually a vet's exam and perhaps a donation to help them cover their expenses. In return you'll get the straight story on the individual dog you're considering and lots of the lore of the breed.
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Such excellent advice...and since this hits near and dear to my heart right now, allow me to spout off a little.

There are so few good reasons, for most people, to get a pup from a breeder. This is by no means a knock on reputable breeders - I have tremendous respect for the good ones, even though they are in the distinct minority. My opinion is also quite hypocritical - I've purchased nothing but Weimaraner pups, for the last 20+ years, from two of the top breeders on the West Coast.

But, I've had a huge change of heart in the last couple of months, and I'm fairly certain I'll never get a Weimaraner from a breeder again. I've simply found breed rescue to be a far more satisfying alternative, and I've not found any downside. Breed rescue dogs, from reputable organizations, have so many positives. In no particular order:

Try before you buy. Every responsible breed rescue organization, will let you return a dog that doesn't work out, for any reason. No guilt, no problem...it's an accepted part of the rescue effort.

Owner pre-screening. Many find the somewhat invasive screening process insulting, but as rescue organizations are proud to point out, their interest lies first with the dog's welfare - not yours. Once a prospective adopter gets over this shock, they typically realize they benefit tremendously from this canine-centric attitude. Nobody knows a breed better than a rescue organization; every breed has characteristics that make them an ideal match for certain lifestyles, and a disaster in waiting for others.

Adult dogs vs. puppies. I'm a sucker for pups, and there is indeed something very special about raising a pup from the start. That being said...they are a complete pain in the ass. Why put yourself through house training, shoe/furniture/carpet destruction, short attention spans, and all the other frustrating aspects of a young dog? Adult resuce dogs are often available that are well trained, mellower, and ready to join you on your travels immediately.

Quality dogs. Chat with your local breed rescue organization, and you'll be blown away by what many of these dogs have done and are capable of. One of the biggest advantages of getting a dog through breed rescue, is temperament testing. The organization I work with, runs exhaustive tests to determine potential faults and strengths for every pooch placed. While this testing can be done on pups by reputable breeders with a fair amount of success, observations are far more valid on adult dogs. Simply put - you have a much better idea of what you are getting up front, with a breed rescue dog. As to any suggestions you can only get good hunting dogs from breeders - hogwash. The very traits that make for a good hunting dog, are traits that cause so many people to give them up. I know of many, many rescue dogs (Weimaraners, GSP's, Viszlas, Brits) that are fantastic hunters.

Bonding. This is what changed my perspective the most, in a dramatic fashion. And it's nothing unusual, as many rescue organizations and/or adoptive dog owners will tell you.

As I mentioned here a few weeks back, we started fostering Weimaraners for our local breed rescue organization - Jake, is our first intake. Jake had a history that is all to common. Ignored by his family, he started exhibiting behavior consistent with neglect, in a breed that needs near constant attention and/or mental stimulation. The owners, unable or unwilling to give him the attention he deserved, took him to a shelter where he stayed locked up in a small cage for 5 weeks. It was from here, that our rescue organization was contacted, and picked him up.

Jake was literally nuts for the first couple of days we had him. He was so incredibly tweaked from lack of attention from his previous owners, and the isolation in the shelter put him over the edge. Quite frankly, I wasn't sure what we'd gotten ourselves into. However, after a week or so, things changed in a huge way.

There's something truly magical that happens when a neglected dog knows they have been rescued...the loyalty and attentiveness to a caring master, something they've never had before, is intense. Once Jake understood how good he had it, the bond we made was very unique - far stronger than any of the dogs I've had previously, all raised from pups. When I speak, he listens. When I reward him for good behavior, his response is one of obvious gratitude. He's simply a fantastic dog and gorgeous animal, and the thought that somebody could dump him at a shelter speaks volumes about the dark side of human nature.

RE Jake - I'm seriously broken up as I write this...we just found him a new home, after turning down many, many interested people. The new owner picks him up on Sunday, and I'm going to miss him like no other. Unlike rescue, fostering is not for the faint of heart...it's an incredible roller coaster of emotions. On one hand, I'm totally stoked to help such a great dog get back to being a companion that will be cherished by the right person. On the other...it's almost like losing one of my own, thinking of him leaving this weekend.

In any event, let me wrap up this little sermon with a bit of introspection. I now finally understand, first hand, what rescue is all about. I highly recommend anyone interested in a pooch, go this route...done properly with the right organization, it is virtually risk-free, and incredibly rewarding.
 
tom&shan":3vbn33bb said:
As a kid growing up on a "farm" the animals were outside the people inside.
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If you ever met my family, you would change your preference in a hurry... :lol:

We don't totally spoil the dogs. For example, we only let them under the covers - never the sheets. And when company comes over, we strictly limit the number of crotch sniffs to three.

Oh, I could go on...but at the risk of having this thread degenerate into another brothel-type discussion, let's just say I can't remember the last time my lovely wife and I didn't have a canine audience. :shock:
 
We have had Australian Shepherds for 20 years and they have all been great dogs. They can be well trained and very protective as well. They have a mini Aussie that doesn't get as big so if you want a mini size protective dog.. . Just a thought. I always felt safe while Larry was off working at night with our aussies at home with my daughter and myself. :o
 
I see (OK, call me less than observant!) at the top of this page Dog Advice, Dog Behavior, Dog Care, Dog Chat, and Dog Community links in the advertising bar...wow, intuitive of them, eh? Wonder what they'd be in a thread with 'brothel' in the title, rather than in the body of the discussion??? :teeth

Bill and Dana...good choice to have the canine audience rather than a feline audience -- sorry, I just could not resist.

Caty
 
I have been reading for the last few days about rescue orgs for all sorts of breeds and seen a whole range of orgs. Some are run by dog breed clubs with the help of breeders and others are ran just by dog lovers who have little good to say about breeders. Some only deal with pure breeds and some mostly with mutts. Now I have never been big on pure breed dogs and have always liked a good mixed breed dog for a pet. but i have never had to pick a dog. my dad was big into bird hunting until he got married then he quit. too much moving around but he always had winrimer ( you know those blue dogs). our first family dog was a german shepard that I barley remember,gave him to a farmer when we moved in to a small place. Second dog was gigi our poodle. my aunt gave her to us after she was to old to show anymore, hated kids when we got her and loved us when she died at 21. after that is was the dane mom got and he only lasted three years due to a brain tumor. I did not have another dog until susan's cyper. that was 17 years with out a dog but I did have a really cool cat and I hate cats. So picking a dog is new to me and I want to make a really good choice. So keep those ideas coming while we do our research.
 
Sorry did I forget to meantion that our Aussies are not pure breeds? The Mama of our dogs was saved from a bad fate. We had her bred to another Aussie (not pure blood) we kept all but one puppy. The other I have is a Aussie/Border collie mix that I saved from the gas chamber. LOL We drove 4 hours each way to get her. I do agree with pet adoptions. I think saving a dog/cat from the gas chamber or needle is a good thing ! All ours have been terrific dogs. One was a Shepherd/Aussie mix. Best dog we ever had ! She lived 15 years, and was the family dog. We still miss her.. ok enough.. take care, Tracy
 
Final thought:

Advice for the women who are also looking.

If you want someone who will bring you the paper without first tearing it apart to remove the sports section, buy a dog.


If you want someone willing to make a fool of himself simply over the joy of seeing you, buy a dog.


If you want someone who will eat whatever you put in front of him and never says its not quite as good as his mother made it, buy a dog.


If you want someone always willing to go out, at any hour, for as long and wherever you want, buy a dog.


If you want someone to scare away burglars, without a lethal weapon which terrifies you and endangers the lives of your family and all the neighbors, buy a dog.


If you want someone who will never touch the remote, doesn't give a damn about football, and can sit next to you as you watch romantic movies, buy a dog.


If you want someone who is content to get up on your bed just to warm your feet and whom you can push off if he snores, buy a dog.


If you want someone who never criticizes what you do, doesn't care if you are pretty or ugly, fat or thin, young or old, who acts as if every word you say is especially worthy of listening to, and loves you unconditionally, perpetually, buy a dog.


But on the other hand If you want someone who will never come when you call, ignores you totally when you come home, leaves hair all over the place, walks all over you, expects you to serve dinner at all hours of the day and night, runs around all night, only comes home to eat and sleep, and acts as if your entire existence is solely to ensure his happiness, Then my friend, buy a cat.

(Any resemblance to your Brat is purely coincidental)
 
Great post Don....nothing like the warmth of a best friend dog :) Our lab is still 100# of bustling energy at the age of 6 and would do absolutely anything for us!
 
I can't resist a small plug for cats on board. What a wonderful advertizement for dogs. However, after five or six weeks on board with out cat(Mr. Grey) I never had to take him to shore to go potty one time. I did have to fish him out of the water twice and drying a long haired cat is a slow process.

Fred, Pat, and Mr. Grey(the swimming cat)
 
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