Why did you choose that sort of dog?

[Finsky]

Join our free community today.

Connect with other like-minded dog lovers!

Login or Register

Being curious (down right nosy) , I was wondering..what is it that draw us to particular type/breed of dog(s)?
I'd like to hear your throughts, stories when you were getting started to your dog ownership...the selection progress...possible research...how you ended up with what you got?

 

[Finsky]

Being curious (down right nosy) , I was wondering..what is it that draw us to particular type/breed of dog(s)?
I'd like to hear your throughts, stories when you were getting started to your dog ownership...the selection progress...possible research...how you ended up with what you got?

In my(our) case..all those years ago when we had our first dog it was just pure chance. We wasn't looking to have a dog, it just happened. Our nextdoor neighbour, elderly chap had few years old yorkie and he suddenly died. His family could not keep him as they all had their own dogs and as I was seen bein friendly with the dog, they asked if we would want him. 'OH YES please!' And that's it..it started the spark. Some years later we were offered JRT to go with the Yorkie as his owner had died too and it would have ended being put down...
So now we had to boys that were like double act..perfect friends.
Once those had passed away...we decided to continue with the terrier line..and so on.
I've done fair bit of dog sitting for other people's dogs so have some experience what other breeds can be like...but something about terrier character is what suit us and keep us entertained. We are terrier people through and through.

 

[Mayblossom]

We had our first Springer many years ago, when we lost him we brought an Old English Sheepdog...then another to keep him company, extremely hard work to look after. Used to show them but too much unpleasantness in the show world so gave up. Lost one at 11 years old and ,as you do, brought another working Springer ( Chester) to keep him company absolute lunatic then a friend of mine was looking for a home for their Westie ( Abbey) as it was fighting with their Boxer....so took that one on! Then Harry Springer ...It goes on and on ( bit like me ) another terrier called Maggie who was so adorable then beautiful Molly Springer ( who we miss so very much ) and finally Lily ( in my profile pic with Molly ) Phew! I’m sure I’ve missed someone out ....

 

[niamh123]

Travis our curlycoated retriever was our first family dog I had grown up with curlies and knew it was the only breed I wanted for my girls to grow up with the 2 year waiting list for him seemed neverending but he was so worth it,I can honestly say he was amazing easy to train never chewed anything although his favourite thing was to walk around with a pair of socks n his mouth.Just after Travis passed we brought Floyd the JRT into our home he has always been a pleasure,then a year later our daughter decided she wanted an EBT that's when Sally arrived a gorgeous girl and she lived to please my daughter sadly she died at 23 months old from Kidney failure.Then my special boy arrived Liam who is just simply a clown

 

[JoanneF]

A previous dog is a funnier example. I chose him because he pee'ed at the right time.

It was back in the day when you went to the pound, handed over your cash, and came home with a dog. We were fairly clear that we wanted a young, male dog of a decent size and we were struggling to choose between him and another one. To help us decide, the man showing us round said he would let us see them running out in the yard to see if that made a difference. As soon as this one went out, he cocked his leg against the wall several times. I realised he was house trained and had waited to get outside, and that was it.

He was a really amazing dog, a cross between a German Shepherd and a collie, and so smart I swear we didn't have to train him - you just had to think something and he did it, it was like telepathy (obviously we did, but you know what I mean).

Slightly embarrassed to say the current rugrat was chosen largely for size.

 

[Finsky]

We had our first Springer many years ago, when we lost him we brought an Old English Sheepdog...then another to keep him company, extremely hard work to look after. Used to show them but too much unpleasantness in the show world so gave up. Lost one at 11 years old and ,as you do, brought another working Springer ( Chester) to keep him company absolute lunatic then a friend of mine was looking for a home for their Westie ( Abbey) as it was fighting with their Boxer....so took that one on! Then Harry Springer ...It goes on and on ( bit like me ) another terrier called Maggie who was so adorable then beautiful Molly Springer ( who we miss so very much ) and finally Lily ( in my profile pic with Molly ) Phew! I’m sure I’ve missed someone out ....

And the conclusion after going through that list to is that you are a sucker for a 'punishment'. I feel tired just to imagining them all..they all sound rather lively sort

 

[Finsky]

I chose him because he pee'ed at the right time.

What could be more viable reason than that!?

 

[Mayblossom]

Extremely hard work Finsky ! But worth it , throw the four ponies into the mix plus cats I wonder now how I coped with it all ! Lily is more than enough for me these days I’d have another ‘Lily’ as she’s so easy ( apart from the eating probs) but you just can’t guarantee it

 

[Finsky]

Travis our curlycoated retriever was our first family dog I had grown up with curlies and knew it was the only breed I wanted for my girls to grow up..

That gave me such a warm feeling in my heart. When growing up, all I ever wanted was a dog..but my parents must have been blind not to see it. Your girls have been SO lucky to have a mum who wanted them grow up with a dog around them. X

 

[Finsky]

Extremely hard work Finsky ! But worth it , throw the four ponies into the mix plus cats I wonder now how I coped with it all ! Lily is more than enough for me these days I’d have another ‘Lily’ as she’s so easy ( apart from the eating probs) but you just can’t guarantee it

Ah, but when we are younger and with all that energy..we don't even think of it! I just happens.
Just couple of years back I would still roll up my sleeves and get on with the gardening..for a job as well as my hobby and growing all our fruit and veg on the table. Now...well..looking through seed catalogues send me to sleep, never mind getting outside for hours getting my hands dirty. I just wait a little bit warmer weather to arrive first..

 

[Biker John]

When we got married we talked about what dog to get, (getting one wasn't in doubt for either of us). We tried to decide logically then before we had decided heard about a 2 year old Shetland Sheepdog that wasn't being looked after properly and they had decided to 'get rid of it'. So Penny came into our lives, as a Sheltie she was no good, barrel chested, prick eared and a gay tail, but she made a wonderful pet. We then found out more about the breed and liked them more. So other Shelties came, in fact by the time I lost my wife we had never been without at least one. At one time my parents wanted a dog as a present, and they decided they wanted a Mini Long Haired Dachshund. We found a breeder, (when she found out it was a present she insisted on meeting my parents), and it joined them. We enjoyed it nearly as much as they did so we got one for ourselves. Then their was a number of rescue / rehomed ones that arrived and never left. One was a Whippet that was around half its proper weight, once he got a bit of body and strength his personality came through and we found out what a wonderful dog he was. Years later after loosing my wife I was close to retiring and I only had an old Sheltie, (somehow she clung on till I had a pup and I lost her at 18 1/2 years). So thinking that though Shelties make wonderful pets in my mind they were to close to my wife so I did not want another but knew I wanted, indeed needed a dog and thinking back to the Whippet decided that was the breed for me, and so Folly came to live with me. Gypsy, the Sheltie, died peacefully two days after Folly came.

 

[JudyN]

Long story... DS2 was going through a rough time emotionally, we thought a dog might help him. He wanted a dog that looked 'cool', not a fluffypoo. I knew I'd have to do a fair bit of the dog care, have fibromyalgia and work from home so didn't want a bundle of energy dropping a soggy tennis ball on my book proofs all day long. And someone told me that lurchers just need a quiet half-hour walk a couple of times a day and spend the rest of the time snoozing.

Having grown up with dogs and watched Barbara Woodford as a child, I knew that all you had to do was feed them after feeding yourself, just so they knew you were in charge, and everything would work out fine. A badly behaved dog hadn't had strong leadership.

Oh yeah, and you shouldn't choose the quieter puppy in the litter.

Little did we know what was going to hit us...

 

[Finsky]

When we got married we talked about what dog to get, (getting one wasn't in doubt for either of us). We tried to decide logically then before we had decided heard about a 2 year old Shetland Sheepdog that wasn't being looked after properly and they had decided to 'get rid of it'. So Penny came into our lives, as a Sheltie she was no good, barrel chested, prick eared and a gay tail, but she made a wonderful pet. We then found out more about the breed and liked them more. So other Shelties came, in fact by the time I lost my wife we had never been without at least one. At one time my parents wanted a dog as a present, and they decided they wanted a Mini Long Haired Dachshund. We found a breeder, (when she found out it was a present she insisted on meeting my parents), and it joined them. We enjoyed it nearly as much as they did so we got one for ourselves. Then their was a number of rescue / rehomed ones that arrived and never left. One was a Whippet that was around half its proper weight, once he got a bit of body and strength his personality came through and we found out what a wonderful dog he was. Years later after loosing my wife I was close to retiring and I only had an old Sheltie, (somehow she clung on till I had a pup and I lost her at 18 1/2 years). So thinking that though Shelties make wonderful pets in my mind they were to close to my wife so I did not want another but knew I wanted, indeed needed a dog and thinking back to the Whippet decided that was the breed for me, and so Folly came to live with me. Gypsy, the Sheltie, died peacefully two days after Folly came.

Wow...18 1/2...that is a lot of years for a dog. It is almost like she was waiting to see you were 'fixed' with the new one before giving in. Sounds lovely that you too have had so many dogs..what is it? Are we canine addicts

 

[Biker John]

Finsky, I guess yes we are addicted but I for one am not complaining. After I lost my wife a friend that says she is Psyschic told me that Gypsy would be with me as long as I needed her, I said don't be silly that would put her over 18. She said you wait and see. Now I was, (and still am), very sceptical but had to admit she was right.

 

[Finsky]

Finsky, I guess yes we are addicted but I for one am not complaining. After I lost my wife a friend that says she is Psyschic told me that Gypsy would be with me as long as I needed her, I said don't be silly that would put her over 18. She said you wait and see. Now I was, (and still am), very sceptical but had to admit she was right.

I am not sceptical with these sort of things, things happen for a reason.
Nice to hear you've found Folly's breed being perfect for you are you now settled for just one or is the plans for more?

 

[Biker John]

Finsky, I would love more, but I don't think it would be right for the dog(s). Whippets tend to be a healthy long lived breed and if I got a pup now, and I would love a race breed pup, if it got to say 15 I would be 90. Now I may be around and I may be able to care for it but I feel it would be pushing my luck quite a bit. And I would not want to leave an old dog behind cause I don't think it would be fair to it. So I'm thinking that if I still feel ok when I loose Folly I guess I'll be looking for an old dog needing looking after.

 

[Mayblossom]

Finsky, I would love more, but I don't think it would be right for the dog(s). Whippets tend to be a healthy long lived breed and if I got a pup now, and I would love a race breed pup, if it got to say 15 I would be 90. Now I may be around and I may be able to care for it but I feel it would be pushing my luck quite a bit. And I would not want to leave an old dog behind cause I don't think it would be fair to it. So I'm thinking that if I still feel ok when I loose Folly I guess I'll be looking for an old dog needing looking after.

That’s quite spooky as I was just about to ask how old is too old to take on a puppy Lily is coming up 11 this year and I don’t feel old enough ( 68) to be without a dog My hubby really wants another spaniel because he misses Molly ( our girl we lost 7 months ago) so much and I catch him watching every spaniel we meet and getting quite emotional. I know it would be me that did all the training etc as he is still working. We’ve had our name down for a rescue spaniel but because Lily isn’t the easiest dog it’s difficult to find something suitable from rescue, a lot have problems which I’m not sure I’m brave enough to cope with but could I cope with puppyhood again Lily could live to a grand old age and by then I definitely will be too old

 

[JudyN]

I've had similar thoughts... Say Jasper lasts till 15, then we'd want a year out to tick off a few bucket list items (OH thinks we're going to cross the US on a motorbike...), then if the next dog lasted 15 years we'd be nearing 80. Plus OH isn't really a dog person and if I should get another knee injury, or bad hip or whatever, it wouldn't be fair for him to have to do all or most of the walking, as he had to do last year.

I suggested getting an oldie but he thought then we'd just get less of the fun and more of the incontinence. Fostering is a possibility. Or cats, or rats... But we also feel we will need a dog to get us out and keep us more active - I'm far fitter than I was before we got Jasper.

 

[Mayblossom]

I’m getting less fit Judy as Lily doesn’t want to go far now, thought of getting her a buggy so we could go for long walks but think I’d feel silly pushing a dog round the common we thought the same about an oldie , had the continence bit and then we’d be in the same situation we are now and as you say, none of the fun . So difficult to know what to do

 

[JudyN]

Oh, I'd get that buggy @Mayblossom, and not worry about what anyone thinks. If they see you from a distance they'll assume it's your grandchild, and if they peer in the buggy they'd think 'Awwwww, how lovely!' It'd be good for you, and Lily too. I was going to say that there's a dotty old lady round her who pushes her oldie around in a buggy, but you don't have to be dotty....

Can't see me doing it with Jasper somehow!