adopting a pet?

[DreamGirlie]

I am looking into adopting a dog from the local humane society.

We already have a 6 month year old puppy (girl), half jack russell half pug. Due to her mix she is very hyper and always ready to play plus shes still young so thats what she wants anyways. She LOVES other dogs, whether they are 13 yrs old or 2yrs old...she gets them all to play and they enjoy each other tons. She was part of my boyfriends old dogs litter and was not a mutt.

The humane society website says you have to bring any pets you currently have when looking to adopt which is fine we planned on doing that anyways.

Im just wondering if anyone has any suggestions on...

-Should the dog be a certain age to help the integration of the two dogs go smoother?

-Is it easier for boys to get along with girls or should it be another girl, or does it not matter?

-I dont want a dog that is spaded (sp?) because I think to have babies would be cute..my bf on the other hand doesnt want his pup to have babies because then we wouldnt be able to keep em. But I said we can give em to friends (we know tons of people who want puppies this way). Is it really a big deal ?

Also, does anyone have experience in this method of getting a puppy? I mean I could just as easily buy one but I think this is good karma...the poor dogs dont have homes and I can help at leats one!

[Morgan]

Re: adopting a pet?

All our family dogs were second hand as it were! I don't think it matters what age or sex, so long as the dogs like each other and you like the dog. You may want to to reconsider have it speyed, babies might be cute but are a major pain in the ass.

[skahound]

Re: adopting a pet?

-Should the dog be a certain age to help the integration of the two dogs go smoother?

Age doesn't really matter too much. Obviously the tendancy of a young pup will be to act more 'child-like' which might get on your dog's nerves, but the people at the humane society are just trying to 'test the waters' and they understand that it might not be a perfect coexistence.

-Is it easier for boys to get along with girls or should it be another girl, or does it not matter?

Doesn't matter. There are just as many Alpha males as Alpha females.

-I dont want a dog that is spaded (sp?) because I think to have babies would be cute..my bf on the other hand doesnt want his pup to have babies because then we wouldnt be able to keep em. But I said we can give em to friends (we know tons of people who want puppies this way). Is it really a big deal ?

As far as I know (at least here in Florida), it is impossible to adopt from any type of SPCA or Humane Society and get a pet that hasn't been spayed or neutered. The reason these agencies exist is because the population is much too great as it is, so the last thing they want are more dogs and cats running rampant.

Also, does anyone have experience in this method of getting a puppy? I mean I could just as easily buy one but I think this is good karma...the poor dogs dont have homes and I can help at leats one!

It's ok to purchase a pet - just make sure it's from a licensed breeder that doesn't operate a mill. Just to be safe, I would NEVER buy a pet from any type of store.

HTH a little.

[picklemonkey]

Re: adopting a pet?

-I dont want a dog that is spaded (sp?) because I think to have babies would be cute..my bf on the other hand doesnt want his pup to have babies because then we wouldnt be able to keep em. But I said we can give em to friends (we know tons of people who want puppies this way). Is it really a big deal ?

you can always neuter him after the first litter arrives just remember 8 baby puppies shit and piss 8 times more than their parents, and they do it in the house

i say go for it. my parents have two dogs, and they love each other. now that my sister and I are both moved out, it's like two young children again... I hope you're ready for the dogs to be constantly running throughout the house. there'll be movement in the house all day long, but if you're cool with that I say go for it!

one of my buddies just gave me his cat two weeks ago. his wife is pregnant, and demanded that they get rid of their 10 year old cat so the baby is "safe." it's nice having a pet, but cats aren't my favorite... I'll take a puppy if you can overnight him to me

[Pataky P]

Re: adopting a pet?

This is very intresting for me...

[Steve Graham]

Re: adopting a pet?

In my opinion, the dogs should be relatively close in age. Growing up we always had dogs, a collie and a golden retriever. The second collie we got a few years before the 1st golden retriever, and when the collie passed on the retriever died, and for no reason the vet could find during the autopsy other than loneliness of losing her best friend.
so the next dogs we got, were within a few months of each other.

[Watcher2k]

Re: adopting a pet?

I agre with Unome, I had two Full Bread Collies they were couple years from eachother.. when Eric Died .. Sarah died a few months later from Loneliness.

Its really sad but it happens =(

[skahound]

Re: adopting a pet?

spade n

• 1. A sturdy digging tool having a thick handle and a heavy, flat blade that can be pressed into the ground with the foot.
  2. Any of various similar digging or cutting tools.

spay v

• To remove surgically the ovaries of (an animal).

[picklemonkey]

Re: adopting a pet?

neuter
castrate
eunuch-icate

[Jibgolly]

Re: adopting a pet?

ive heard that when you adopt a puppy from the humane society, they have you give a mandatory donation. so you purchase the damn animal anyway.

[skahound]

Re: adopting a pet?

ive heard that when you adopt a puppy from the humane society, they have you give a mandatory donation. so you purchase the damn animal anyway.

All they usually ask is that you cover the costs of the medical procedure and food while the animal was there. Not sure what would happen if you refused to pay the "donation" though.

[minneec]

Re: adopting a pet?

sounds like your pup now would love company. so adopting from a shelter would be a great thing. the spca behavior tests all their dogs, so they are all loving, generally well mannered dogs. and they all need a home. but definitely bring your dog and see how the potential dogs act towards your pup. every dog has a different personality and some click, but some just don't. age isn't really a worry. unfortunately all of the spca animals are spayed or neutered once they cross the doors of spca, so you can't really mate your dogs. but i would strongly discourage it. a lot of the animals in shelters today are caused by first time breeders. and yes puppies are cute, and yes, now you have friends who want pets, but invariably when the time comes, someone always backs out.

[picklemonkey]

Re: adopting a pet?

but invariably when the time comes, someone always backs out.

AAAAAAAAMEN!

[dawnx]

Re: adopting a pet?

DreamGirlie hope you get your dog
we've got a staffordshire bull terrier and i don't know
what we'd be like if she wasn't here she's probaly my best friend
as they don't answer back!!!!
but she is a good listener

[ubiqe]

Re: adopting a pet?

I agre with Unome, I had two Full Bread Collies they were couple years from eachother.. when Eric Died .. Sarah died a few months later from Loneliness.

Its really sad but it happens =(

It's true - it can happen, but on the other hand when you get a second dog and both your dogs are quite young and of very similar age, the troubles can come when they start to mature socialy. When there's age difference the older dog usually doesn't have any trouble in putting the younger into the right position in hierarchy. 2 males/females growing up at same time often fight with each other. One of my friends had to give one of her dogs away in such a situation - after a 1,5 of living together the dogs started to be really aggressive towards each other when both of them reached maturity at the same time.