Any dog experts out there?
Sent from my SM-N910V using Tapatalk
Printable View
Any dog experts out there?
Sent from my SM-N910V using Tapatalk
I hear you need to feed and water them. And some of them like when you pet them.
What kind of information are you seeking? Ask away- lots of knowledgeable folks here. :)
I'm looking at getting a dog. I want a short haired one. I've been looking a dobermans, rottweilers, short haired German Shepherds. Any issues about any of these dogs that I should know about. I'm looking for a good house and guard dog.
Sent from my SM-N910V using Tapatalk
When it's time to put one down, don't be a sissy, just dig a hole in the back yard and take care of business. Or so I hear.
Like Old Yeller?Quote:
Originally Posted by Irving
Each breed has issues. The larger the dog, the fewer years they live. GSD are excellent all-around guard dogs/house dogs, but unless you pay for a pure-bred dog with papers guarding against it, they have hip dysplacia issues. Rotties are amazingly wonderful loyal giants...and they can have medical issues with their hearts that will take them from you abruptly. Dobies are excellent, smart guard dogs that are at high risk for heart issues, hepatic disease, and bloat. You have to be very careful about the breeder you're going to select, should you go with a purebred canine.
Not on your list. But I have a short haired Saint Bernard He sheds less than my buddies 2 Germans, loves our little kiddos, and goes full Kujo on strangers to the house. I got him from a shelter in Kansas when he was 1 after his d-bag owner beat the shit out of him and let the chain grow into his neck.... Grrrrr. He's 9 going on 10, and runs like he's 3! He's my fav.
http://i1193.photobucket.com/albums/...F68AE30021.jpg
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Well my pit is the worst guard dog ever...
Sent by a free-range electronic weasel, with no sense of personal space.
Attachment 60869
We have had three Dobermans. Great dogs with health issues due to inbreeding. Lost one to bad hips the other to a enlarged heart. Currently have a 6 year old female. We prefer outcropped and undocked.
Veterinarian friend and our own research led us to getting a Rhodesian Ridge back.
Current almost two year old male has been mentally bomb proof and low budget on vet bills. Attachment 60871
They get a two mile off leash walk almost every day and have some social skills. You need to spend time with any decent dog.
I have had GSDs my whole life, and had Rotties for the last nearly 20 years. I also trained K9 dogs, mostly GSDs, Rotts, and Dobies. My advice is when looking at any of these breeds, stay away from anything that has any American line blood. Stay with German, Austrian, or Czech lines as they have few health problems. Training at a young age is a must, and I mean starting at 3 months or less with obedience. They are all good dogs for your started purpose, but in my opinion GSDs are the ones tyat want to please their master most and most protective. But I still love my Rottie, very protective but doesn't care as much what you want. They take a much stronger hand to train.
Toughest dog I ever had was a yellow eyed alaskan malamute, he made US Air Force canines whimper just by looking at them. Top it off, he killed a large porcupine. Supposedly malamutes are the closest cousins to the wolf genetically. I wish I had another just like him, he preferred to be outside in a blizzard.
Be honest about who you are, your activity level, your living space and conditions, including small children and those who may have allergies. Then start looking at dogs that would fit your lifestyle.
By guard dog, do you mean "sound the alarm" or "lead the charge?" In my home, I depend on the dogs to alert us to the unusual. I do not want my dogs to engage a threat unless they have to because that is the job the bipeds are better suited to, in my home.
Dogs have always given more to me than I could ever give them back. In many ways, dogs are the best people I have ever known.
Good luck finding your next friend on four legs.
The very best "sound the alarm" dogs are ankle-biters. If you have two or three of those, nobody is going to sneak into your home undetected.
Problem #1 is the breeds you're looking at ESPECIALLY IN AURORA. Any of those can be and or deemed by some nosey SJW, "viscious" in their mind. Some cities in the metro area have vicious breed ord.Quote:
Originally Posted by n2877
https://www.animallaw.info/local/co-...ter-14-animals
Then there's the ambulance chaser that could take you for everything you have. Again, all because "someone" gets frightened by your dogs looks, bark, size.
Like this "Attorney" Notice his "pitch"
http://www.personalinjuryco.com/dog-...bans-colorado/
Even if you do not live in Denver, other counties throughout the state of Colorado have similar bans and laws in effect. It is important to know what the laws in your county are regarding dangerous breeds of dogs. If you believe that someone is housing a dangerous breed of dog that violates the Denver law, it is important to contact the authorities in your community immediately. Dog breed bans are in place to protect the public from dangerous dogs that have been known to cause serious and sometimes fatal injuries. Dogs that have vicious propensities, such as Pit bulls, Dobermans, Rottweilers and German Shepherds, can leave victims with lifelong disabilities, scarring and emotional trauma. In addition, some of these dogs may be housed illegally and used for illegal purposes—such as dog fighting. - See more at: http://www.personalinjuryco.com/dog-....kJCDSc9h.dpuf
You don't need a larger dog to protect you , be a guard dog , etc.
Want as loyal dog who has your back? Adopt a rescue one. IMO it's not the breed of the dog. it's how one raises and trains their dog.
To date every dog we've taken in has been there, on the money and front line if something went down.
You want one of the best guard dogs out there, adopt a Standard Poodle. They don't shed and have no issue coming between you and a threat. As again, most other dogs one takes care of.
http://www.petwave.com/Dogs/Breeds/P...rsonality.aspx
Do a lot of research before you make a decision. You can get a dog that does what you want, without it looking like a dog that does what you want.
I'm going to second the rescue option. The best guard dog I've ever had is my English Pointer mix, she's smaller than a purebred, about 34 pounds, but hears everything and alerts me it immediately. She reacts differently to different things so I can usually tell what has piqued her attention well before I know something is there.
She's tougher that shit too, she got hit by a car two weeks before I got back from my last deployment and looking at her now you'd never know.
Meet my son's rescue dog-issues include red eye/skin infection/unhealthy weight. When I mentioned he could be a money pit his reply was "I couldn't leave this guy and he needs someone to help him"
He's already been to vet and improving daily.
Attachment 60877
Is your son a Marine?Quote:
Originally Posted by StagLefty
Good find and a good thing to do. Who wouldn't love that face?
Not a Marine just a great heart for animals
He just has a bit of the Sgt Chesty look about him.
I love my German bloodline GSD. She can be trained to do anything, extremely healthy, and she is intelligent enough to make good decisions without anybody directing her. For instance, about a couple weeks ago, the neighbor's special needs kid was wandering around on my property; my GSD never saw him before. I found my GSD playing with him and watching over him. The thing I like about properly bred and trained GSDs is that they are protective but they are incredibly instinctive when knowing the correct course of action; they are so incredibly eager to please, which I think is the big distinction with them compare to other breeds.
+100, I couldn't agree more! My daughter trains dogs as well as good friends of ours (they do a lot of the local K9 work in El Paso county), and you've been given some great advice in this thread!Quote:
Originally Posted by UncleDave
If you want more of a task-oriented, worker dog, look towards the border collie breed. Ours does about 300 things and is always eager to learn a new task!!
+1 to the story that MED shared, our GSD does the same thing: very caring & helpful when needed, your worst enemy if you have malevolent intentions...
Absolutely. When I was a toddler my mom would let me outside with the female we had at the time. She would here me away from the sidewalk when I got to close, and stand over the top of me watching all without being trained to do that. No one but my mom, dad or grandma could get close to me with her there. There is no substitute for good breeding and early training in my experience. I have had rescue dogs that are great, but they took much more time and skill to get trained properly and always has some remnants of the emotional scars that caused some quirks. Nothing wrong with that if you are willing to put in the hundreds of hours it will take. There are no bad dogs only dogs not suited to your needs, and bad owners.Quote:
Originally Posted by MED
Yup. My daughter likes to say that most of the training is for the owner, the dog is smarter most of the time!Quote:
Originally Posted by UncleDave
Friend of mine is often saying, "if God wanted companions, He should've stopped after making the dog!"
Don't buy... adopt. Rescue. Make sure your 'rescue' is a legitimate one because there are TONS of places out there posing as rescues that are peddling breeders cast-offs for 'adoption fees' that are pretty high and pure profit.
If you insist on a pure breed dog check out National Mill Dog Rescue as they rescue dogs and puppies from puppy mills (the disgusting underbelly of where 'bought' puppies come from) so you get the best of both worlds. They're East of Colorado Springs in Peyton and have HUNDREDS of dogs. Check out their website but if you're in the market for giving a dog a home you owe it to yourself to make a trip down there to meet the dogs they have ready for adoption. I can tell you from first hand experience that there is little more rewarding than rescuing a dog that has been removed from a puppy mill situation.
One more thing- be sure that when you decide upon the dog, you'll have plenty of time and attention for them. When we lived in Aurora, it broke my heart to see a couple of idiots adopt a GSD mixed breed, only to leave him alone in his kennel all day long (they both worked full time.) When they got home from work, they were too tired to play with the dog or take him on walks. He'd bark all day long, lonely as anything. So they got him a friend- a border collie.
That border collie had them both out of that kennel in less than a week. I'm not sure how; if they dug a hole, or if the collie figured out how to open the latch or what- but both of them ran away. I don't know if they ever found the dogs. I kind of hoped they found a place with lots of room to run and chase bunnies and be the way dogs are supposed to be.
The only suggestion I have is to get pet insurance. I know it sounds like a waste of money but it saved me from having to put my 4 year old down for a double knee surgery. I put about $6500 on a credit card and 4 days later I had a $5625 check in hand. I pay $50 a month and will get it for every dog I own from here on out. I have TruPanion, they seem to be the best.
Here is is after his surgery.
https://scontent.xx.fbcdn.net/hphoto...02&oe=56A0A982
My god. That's a small horse!Quote:
Originally Posted by drift_g35
I'm with the others that mentioned it. PLEASE RESCUE !
Both of my dogs are rescues and I feel like the luckiest person on the planet.
Whatever and wherever you get your dog make sure he wants you. I'm not kidding, when you meet them are they focused on you or are they distracted by things and ignore you? My/my fathers Akita pit mix was beside himself when we saw him, other dogs ignored us at the rescue. Turned out to be the most loyal well behaved thing.
^ Same thing happened with my lab. We stood back and watched family after family walk by and he just laid there. Every time he saw us , he came over and started pawing at the glass.
I can't thank you guys enough for all the advice and info. I have already decided to adopt/rescue a dog. If I had the land and money I would clean out the shelters. I will look into the one by the springs. And also look into what I can and can't own according to ordinances. Thanks again. Love being part of this community
Sent from my SM-N910V using Tapatalk
Awesome!Quote:
Originally Posted by n2877
Quote:
Originally Posted by n2877
Here's a hint. ANYTHING with pit, stafordshire, american terrier etc on their paperwork may come back to bite you down the road. It's a shame as there have been so many good mixed breeds that need homes. BUT Thanks to KNEE JERK people. one cannot.
You should look at every dog. Not just ones you feel will portray something to people.
REMEMBER: IT'S THE DEED, NOT THE BREED.
I had a rotty.. Great dog, died from bone cancer which is pretty normal. If I did it over again I would get a Greater Swiss Mtn dog. Essentially a rottweiler from the swiss side of the mtns. All the same traits and bred for the same purpose but in a friendlier looking package for the general public when you take him to play at the local park.
Consider a fully trained dog from the Cell Dog program. I can't recommend it highly enough, and they're all rescues. Then fully trained by prisoners who truly have to earn the privilege, and it changes the lives of both the dogs and the trainers.
https://www.coloradoci.com/servicepr...ppy/index.html
Swimming dogs are more fun
Check out a Cane Corso, Great guard dogs, loyal to the bone, short haired, and damn smart. A good friend of mine had one and will not get any other breed after having a Cane Corso.
Quote:
Originally Posted by n2877
I can assure you there's a pup out there somewhere anxiously waiting just for you. You'll both know when you see each other.Quote:
Originally Posted by n2877
I recommend pet insurance as a precaution. One of my dogs developed a Mast cell tumor. Insurance covered 80% of the cost.