that puppy is too cute! it is great that you adopted all of your pups, i will do the same shortly down in phillys new pound!

cant wait

 

You guys are really giving me 'BUY A DOG' fever...

I haven't made a decision yet (as I'm not out of this freaking apartment for another few months) but, as soon as I do, you all will be the second to know (wife comes first... sorry. )

RP

 

You'd be better off with the Lab. They become part of the family. Shorthairs and the rest of the upland bird dogs are great, but if you don't use them for their intended purpose, they get really antsy drive you nuts. Same goes for the hounds. I've never met a person that's regretted getting a lab. Just make sure you have a bagless vacuum...they shed twice their body weight in hair in a year.

 

This whole shedding thing is kind of worrying me. I don't mind a little dog hair here and there but twice it's weight in fur!? Argh. I don't think my wife is going to like that... nor will I considering how often she vaccums. LOL!

RP

 

Restrict the dog to the solid surface areas of the house. Then at least the hair can be swept to a pile and picked up. Another investment I made here is a central vac system, with it I had vac pans installed in bathrooms and kichen. Then you just turn it on and sweep the loose stuff towards it, the vac pan does the rest. Use child gates for the first few months of training, after that you can remove them, the dog understands their territorial limits.

The most reliable solutions....
1. Get a dog run and park the animal outside.
2. Don't get a dog.

 

I think I heard you mention that you and your wife were considering having a kid somewhere in the near future. Take it from me, dog hair will be the least of your worries if you embark down that path! Wait until a diaper leaks on those special leather seats in your KR, or the kid offers up breakfast all over your new carpet. Somehow the issue of dog hair will drop severely on the significance meter.

Take care, and good luck with your decision.

-Mike-

 

while we're off the topic...

the kid reference is real funny.


i remember living at home as a youth, got the standard complaints from my dad.

'get your hands off the walls.....'
'dont put the glass on the wood furniture.....'
'who put this nick in the wall over here....'

my reaction to all the above was always 'what an a$$hole"

now its me making those same statements.

logical thought would reason that i am now the a$$hole.

at least i take the time to explain why i am uttering the same rhetoric. i'm an a$$hole who talks more.

 

I'de get a lab.

 

Find myself thinking these same thoughts all the time.

-Mike-

 

Nah... no diaper leaks on my seats... I'd have to disown him/her. LOL!

RP

 

Given that statement, I think you better revisit the issue of kids at some later date.

-Mike-

 

I use to think the same thing about my dad. He was major **** about his cars and trucks, wouldn't you know it now I am as well. Its good to be the @sshole...

 

Okay... back to poooooooches...

Talked with my uncle that breeds Labs yesterday... looks like I'll be a Lab owner here in about 2 months.

 

I think you'll really like the lab, they are great dogs...

 

I am not sure if anyone brought up the Queensland healer or also known as the Australian cattle dog.

I am usually a German Shepherd or Lab type person. I sort of inherited a Queensland healer pup. I am quite pleased with her. She is medium sized dog, very intelligent, loyal, good with kids and lot's of energy. They will run all day with/for you and not complain once.

They are a Dingo and Australian Shepherd cross breed. They are a stout standing breed and fearless of large animals. Their hair is not very long , so there is less mess. Their teeth are pretty scary. My dog runs free. I have only half an acre but she stays put until someone she don't know comes on the property. Then she kinda herds them away from the property.

I couldn't have asked for a better dog. It's worth looking into.

Good luck.