Getting a dog!

[Dagmar]

In two weeks the wife and I move from our apartment into a 2 bedroom townhouse, with a front and back yard.

It's time to get a dog!

I'd love this dog...
http://www.longmonthumane.org/adopt/...%20Tub&id=1139
But I think we're gonna get a smallish dog... puppy maybe. I dunno... maybe I can convince the wife (not an easy task I know...)

Probably go to the humane society, in Boulder or Longmont.
Anyone had any experience with getting dogs from humane societies?
Anyone with tips about getting a dog? Only had a dog when I was a kid...

All tips, hints etc... will be greatly appreciated Maners!!!!

[DarkHorse30]

say no to terriors.

[Dagmar]

Originally Posted by DarkHorse30

say no to terriors.

Any reason? Are they yappy?

[TailgateNut]

We added to our back yard terror by adopting a puppy from the "puppy rescue" out in Adams county. They rescue litters from "bad" situations, immunize them and they can be adopted on weekends for a very reasonable fee,with a "rebate" once you get them neutered or spayed!

[ludo21]

Originally Posted by Dagmar

Any reason? Are they yappy?

i just dont like those dang little things

I like both Mutts i had. Great dogs!!

Remember to play with it as much as possible!! You never know when they go (happened to me)

[Billy Clyde Puckett]

I have a 100 pound lab who thinks he is a lap dog. Sits around the house all day and just barks when someone comes to the door or he hears the wife drive into the garage.

[GSRelyea]

Got a 150lb Newf 2 yrs old now, most loyal dog ever. Don't think you want to go that route if you are looking for a smaller dog though. He doesn't have mean bone in his body and they love kids.

[-Slap-]

Originally Posted by Dagmar

In two weeks the wife and I move from our apartment into a 2 bedroom townhouse, with a front and back yard.

It's time to get a dog!

I'd love this dog...
http://www.longmonthumane.org/adopt/...%20Tub&id=1139
But I think we're gonna get a smallish dog... puppy maybe. I dunno... maybe I can convince the wife (not an easy task I know...)

Probably go to the humane society, in Boulder or Longmont.
Anyone had any experience with getting dogs from humane societies?
Anyone with tips about getting a dog? Only had a dog when I was a kid...

All tips, hints etc... will be greatly appreciated Maners!!!!

Congratulations, Dagmar!

Start watching The Dog Whisperer on The National Geographic Channel.



Cesar Millan Rules!

Humans in training

By Catherine E. Toth
Advertiser Staff Writer

Aulani Cash knew her golden retriever, Sonic, needed exercise.

She figured he got enough of that just running around the family's Hawai'i Kai home.

It wasn't until she saw an episode of "The Dog Whisperer" on the National Geographic Channel that she realized Sonic needed more than a yard to run around in. He needed to be walked.

"My dog needs that one-on-one walk," said Cash, 40, a stay-at-home mom of two. "I never really realized that before. I have to show him who's the leader, so he knows where his place is in the family. I never knew that before."

Cesar Millan, the host of the show and world-renowned dog behavior specialist, would be so proud.

"Animals are simple, humans are complicated," said the 36-year-old from Englewood, Calif., who will be in Hawai'i sharing his expert advice next week. (See box.) "What I'm bringing to Hawai'i is the understanding of Mother Nature, how everybody can go back to the basic connection between humans and dogs."

There are about 65 million owned dogs nationwide. In Hawai'i 29 percent of households support more than 220,000 canines. And many of them — and their owners — could use Millan's help.

He rehabilitates dogs, but he trains people. This is his mission in life.

"You don't have to train a dog as much as you have to train a human," said Millan, who founded the Dog Psychology Center in Los Angeles, where he rehabilitates desperate, last-chance canines. "During the show you see dogs that are super trained ... but they have issues. They attack humans or they have psychological issues. They're trained but not balanced."

Tina Sasada doesn't own a dog right now, though she grew up with a white spitz, German shepherds and three golden retrievers.

But she would if she had the space and time.

"I'd love to have a dog, but in the right setting," said Sasada, 43, who owns a drafting and design service and lives in Waipahu. "We don't have a yard for it to run around in. And it's a lot of care to have a dog. It's not right to have a dog when you don't have the right place for it."

She's been a fan of Millan since the show debuted last year on the National Geographic Channel, living vicariously through other dog owners and learning what to do when she does have her own pooch someday.

"I was really intrigued when I watched the show," said Sasada, who shares a tri-colored cat named Coko with her husband, George. "(Millan is) an extremely unique individual with this knowledge. No one has ever brought (these behavior issues) to light the way he has ... He just understands it all. It's like he was meant to do this."

Born and raised on a small farm in Mexico, Millan always felt a strong connection to nature.

His unique relationship with canines really became apparent as a teenager. Dogs just seemed to follow him wherever he went. In fact, folks nicknamed him "El Perrero," which means "The Dog Man."

He knew at age 13 exactly what he wanted to do with his life: to be the best dog trainer in the world.

"I made that declaration and I didn't question it," Millan said. "It was clear to me what I wanted to be. My dad said there was no money in that, but that's what I wanted to do ... Thank God my mom said I could be whatever I wanted. I listened to her because that made sense."

At 21, barely able to speak English, Millan moved to California to pursue his dream. In between washing dishes and sweeping floors, he worked as a dog groomer and walker. He was shocked to see how Americans treated their canines.

"What's missing for most dogs in America isn't food, shelter or affection," he said. "It's exercise with a psychological challenge. In other countries, they get exercise and discipline, they get to live the dog side, they don't have names. In America, everyone is so focused on naming the dog. In the animal world, names have no meaning. Who you are is your energy, that's who you are."

One of the biggest mistakes Americans make with their dogs is treating them like they're humans, he said. They give them silly names, dress them in costumes, give them fluffy beds to sleep in. To a dog, living in a mansion is no different than a goldfish living in a bowl. He doesn't know he's living in Beverly Hills; he knows he's living behind walls.

"They're on a mission to make a dog human," Millan said. "This is something that's benefiting humans only. We're becoming a very selfish society."

About eight years ago, Millan started the Dog Psychology Center in South Central Los Angeles. He converted a large warehouse into a two-acre facility to rehabilitate distraught canines.

Local newspapers profiled Millan and his uncanny ability to work with aggressive dogs. That created a little buzz. Then a story that ran in the Los Angeles Times catapulted him to worldwide fame. The story was read by dog lovers from Australia to France. Producers from TV talk shows started calling. At that point, he had another idea.

Now he wanted his own TV show.

It took about a year of knocking on doors, he said, before National Geographic Channel agreed to give him a shot.

"I wanted to reach out to more people," he said. "I didn't matter if it took three days or three years, I just didn't stop believing in it. It's partly me being stubborn, but it's a good, healthy stubborn. This is what I want and that's it. There's no space for anything else. I live my life that way."

Today, with more than 20 years of experience, Millan is one of the most sought-after specialists in his field. His client list includes celebrities such as Will Smith, Nicolas Cage and Hilary Duff.

He's married with two sons, living the life of his childhood dreams. And this month he'll be in Hawai'i for the second time in three months — this time without the kids. He and his wife, Illusion, will be on their honeymoon after 11 years of marriage.

"I don't have any plans," said Millan, who will be staying in Waikiki. "I don't create the plans; my wife does. Put me in front of a dog and I'll make sure the dog has a plan for his life. But with my life, I think my wife is much better at that than me."

And life, for Millan, is definitely good.

"My dad still doesn't understand why people are paying me to walk their dogs," Millan said, with a laugh. "America is a very positive country. Here, you can be whatever you want. It's awesome. A guy can cross the border 14 years ago and now have his own TV show. Only in America."

[Clockwork Orange]

Congrats Dagmar. That was my first order of business when we bought our house 3 years ago too.

Enjoy your new best friend.

[Chupacabra]

cant go wrong with the classic golden retriever altho most come with a golden price tag.... i got mine for a decent price and he has turned out to be the perfect college dog. lays on the couch all day, very friendly and very obediant. but, they are very big dogs with massive amounts of hair.

[Chupacabra]

sitting like a human on the couch

[clint7]

Australian Shepherd...be prepared to go, go, go. It's like living with an Olympic athlete...but they are so smart and quick/eager to learn. Smartest dog I've ever had. She'd play fetch and hide & seek from sun up to sun down. Plus, if you're interested in getting your dog involved in games to keep their mind and body active, Aussies almost have an unfair advantage at agility courses. Heck, Denver should think about drafting my Holly at RB this year! Beat any damn 40 time at the combine...and she is clearly a "one cut and go" runner.

[Billy Clyde Puckett]

Slap has a fine looking dog there - If he came over to my house , he and my guy would probalby just spend the day following each other around overmarking their spots.

[RhymesayersDU]

Congrats dagmar! You know, I love my college life, living in Denver on my own, etc... But if there is one thing I miss about home in Albuquerque (besides no bills and free food) are my two beagles there. So cute, so affectionate. And they never forget... no matter how long I'm here in Denver, whenever I make it back home, they jump on me like I never left.

[wolf754life]

a pug is a great addition to any family, some shedding, but they are great fun

[Tredici]

I recently adopted a puppy from this No Kill Shelter. (They will work with you on getting the dog delivered to you.)

www.hua.org

They have lots of dogs needing homes on their website to choose from. Warning - some of the stories behind these critters will make you go from horrified to just plain mad at how incredibly stupid, greedy, and disgusting humans can be when it comes to critters.

Anyway, I'm very happy with my little girl and found the organization good to work with. They will put you through your paces on the adoption process as they want to be sure the dog is getting a good home, stable environment.

Adoption is definitely the way to go!

[Ray Finkle]

I love my Boston Terrier and now it is not yappy....the only terrier that is like that is the Jack Russel Terrier....

[Dagmar]

Originally Posted by RhymesayersDU

Congrats dagmar! You know, I love my college life, living in Denver on my own, etc... But if there is one thing I miss about home in Albuquerque (besides no bills and free food) are my two beagles there. So cute, so affectionate. And they never forget... no matter how long I'm here in Denver, whenever I make it back home, they jump on me like I never left.

Beagles are something my wife loves. I've heard they can very loud too though? The only stipulation I have is that the dog doesn't yap all the time, or howl etc. And it has to be bigger than the cats full grown. I don't want no dog I can accidentally step on!

[Tredici]

Hey my pup is still on that site. With a "Homeward Bound - Adopted Label".

If you go into www.hua.org

Click on the Dogs For Adoption Section

Go to Page 3

Scroll down until you see the Puppy named Lotte.

I've had her for 1 month today.

[Dagmar]

Originally Posted by Tredici

Hey my pup is still on that site. With a "Homeward Bound - Adopted Label".

If you go into www.hua.org

Click on the Dogs For Adoption Section

Go to Page 3

Scroll down until you see the Puppy named Lotte.

I've had her for 1 month today.

My boss has one of those, 7 months old. He loves that dog! Nice dog Tred. I noticed there's a dog called Sassy on that site too...

[RhymesayersDU]

Originally Posted by Dagmar

Beagles are something my wife loves. I've heard they can very loud too though? The only stipulation I have is that the dog doesn't yap all the time, or howl etc. And it has to be bigger than the cats full grown. I don't want no dog I can accidentally step on!

Yeah, their howling is loud, and it can be annoying if you're trying to nap, or watch TV or something. But with that said, it's been my experience that as they learn about their surroundings and have some training, they get a lot better. For example, my female beagle Cleo when we first got her, was annoying as hell. Cute, but she howled at everything, loudly. We even had a neighbor complain.

But, after a couple months of training her (i.e., scolding her when she barked a lot) coupled with her learning her surroundings (i.e., that's just the neighbor in his backyard, who cares) now the only time she'll bark is when she legitimately thinks something is wrong or if our other dog decides he wants to mess with her and cause trouble.

I may be now partial to beagles, but I'll never own another dog besides a beagle. They are way too cute.

[Dagmar]

"Lotte is living happily in Colorado"
http://www.hua.org/Dogs-For-Adoption/Lotte.html

[-Slap-]

Originally Posted by Dagmar

"Lotte is living happily in Colorado"
http://www.hua.org/Dogs-For-Adoption/Lotte.html

Lotte is a very lucky little dog.

[Odysseus]

Originally Posted by clint7

Australian Shepherd...be prepared to go, go, go. It's like living with an Olympic athlete...but they are so smart and quick/eager to learn. Smartest dog I've ever had. She'd play fetch and hide & seek from sun up to sun down. Plus, if you're interested in getting your dog involved in games to keep their mind and body active, Aussies almost have an unfair advantage at agility courses. Heck, Denver should think about drafting my Holly at RB this year! Beat any damn 40 time at the combine...and she is clearly a "one cut and go" runner.

Aussies are incredible dogs. I cannot speak highly enough about them. They need a lot of room and if you like long walks it's almost too much dog. It's ridiculously smart and teachable dog. The dog adapts to a wide range of personalities and situations. It depends on what you are after.

Whatever breed you select find one whose temprement matches your needs.

Cesar Millan is beyond words. He teaches so much common sense that it's scary. A lot of it is stuff we actually SHOULD know but have forgotten.

I'm glad Slap brought him up.

[DomCasual]

Originally Posted by GSRelyea

Got a 150lb Newf 2 yrs old now, most loyal dog ever. Don't think you want to go that route if you are looking for a smaller dog though. He doesn't have mean bone in his body and they love kids.

Wow. And keep anything breakable higher than about 5 feet. I love those dogs, but they are HUGE! Our friends have one, and the poor guy can't get out of his own way sometimes. And his tail is a weapon when it comes to fragile things.