Sanvean

German Shepherd Dog :)

Another site: [url]http://www.fataldogattacks.com/[/url]

I don't think Poochster is selfish so much as realistic. A LOT of people have very busy lives and have to get a pet that fits into that. It's good that he realizes he can't accommodate a very active dog. (Though I do think a puppy would be a BAD choice; an adult would be much better.) My list of demands would've sounded unreasonable, too: 1. Hypoallergenic (DH has allergies) 2. Good with cats (we have three) 3. Good with kids (we plan to have some in a few years) 4. Candidate for pet therapy (I have always wanted to do this) -- so the dog had to have a very easygoing temperament 5. Doesn't need a lot of exercise (we're pretty lazy!) 6. Is OK being alone for 8-9 hours (we both work full time) 7. Isn't overly bark (barking drives DH nuts) We did a TON of research and finally decided on a Maltese, a decision confirmed when we babysat a friend's Maltese and she fit into our household perfectly. We then searched awhile longer and found Macy (who was 4 at the time), who was a retired breeder's bitch.

The Drs. Foster and Smith catalog has some nice, simple doggie coats and sweaters.

Hugs and prayers for you and Poppy.

Marys Mama, none of the Bostons I've met are typical hyper terriers... but I don't know a ton of them, so I may be off base here. Poochster, I would advise you to stay away from "chi-poos" and other "poo" and "oodle" breeds. Sadly, about 99 percent of them are bred by people who don't give a flying fig about reputable breeding -- no health checks, no concern for temperament, etc. These folks are only concerned about making a quick buck on a "fad" dog. If you are not averse to a small dog, how about a Maltese or Bichon? They are lovely, nonshedding dogs that are fairly bright and easygoing and not excessively hyper or yippy. My Macy, who is a Maltese, gets pretty much all the exercise she needs by playing indoors. Small dogs also travel easily, which may be a concern for you. If you're interested, I have a Maltese page here: [url]http://www.alexiscoxon.com/html/maltese.html[/url]

Awwwwwwwwwwwwww!!!

*Hugs* to you. I am still praying for Snow White's safe return. Deja is as cute as a button! She looks like a real little character :)

I -always- get a bichon frise as the right dog for me on these quizzes :) I think it automatically discounts Maltese because we plan on having children in a few years. But I figured, our kids are going to have to learn to be nice to the kitties; they can learn to be nice to the kitty-sized dog, too. And Macy is very child-tolerant.

Oh, she is too sweet and adorable for words! I am in love with her! I am so sorry to hear that the poor li'l punkin has an ear infection. I hope she feels better and you get some rest!

What about a Boston Terrier? They are absolutely darling, short-haired, very sweet -tempered and cute as buttons. Here's a link to more info: [url]http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/bostonterrier.htm[/url] (Note: I cannot totally vouch for the accuracy of the information on dogbreedinfo.com, but it does seem to correctly reflect the Boston Terriers I personally know.)

Darling photos! When Janie and Pawnee were little, my Siamese, Nimo, would sometimes pin them down and clean them. He has always been a good "mom"!

Sounds like a broker.

Hi, Mary! *Waves*

I assume you want to change your dog's behavior only in regards to people who shouldn't be in your house, right? :) I would talk to an obedience instructor or behavior specialist, if you are really serious about this, and have your dog evaluated. Not every dog could or SHOULD be protection trained. A dog who is protection trained needs to be able to tell the difference between people whose intentions are good and whose intentions are bad. Furthermore, keep in mind that you may be legally liable for a crook's injuries if he breaks into your house and your dog bites him...and I know some insurance agencies won't insure a homeowner with a protection-trained dog.

My father brought home a new puppy when I was still tiny, and my mom said it was a major PITA. (The puppy -- a Dobie -- adored me, from what mom says, but she later decided nobody but my parents should be allowed to hold me, so she had to go to a new home.)

So glad your little guy is OK!

I would pay any amount I could for Macy's safe return! Unfortunately, I'm not exactly awash in money, but I would beg or borrow (probably not steal) whatever I could. I worry terribly about her being stolen. She's spayed, so she couldn't be used for breeding, but someone wouldn't necessarily know that.

Here's a site with some more ideas: [url]http://www.mountaineermastiffs.com/LostStolen.htm[/url]

Oh, my heart is breaking for you! Can you put up posters saying "Stolen: Large reward if returned, no questions asked"? I am praying for her safe return!

All of you in the (potential) path of the hurricane are in our prayers!

Where did you get your dog from? If it was a pet store or someplace similar, it could easily be a mix (or just not a well-bred heeler).

Well, it would depend on your doggie's personality. If he's boisterous, I would go with an adult cat (who has already been around dogs) or an older kitten. If he's more gentle and laid back, you can go with a littler one. (However, please give some though to the adults! They are so rarely adopted. It breaks my heart at pet adoptions when everyone passes by the sweet older kitties to play with the tiny kittens.) Sex shouldn't matter much, as they're different species. I would probably avoid a shy or skittish kitty, as this could be exacerbated by your puppy.

Heck, I wouldn't be able to think about anything else, either!

Awww...it is SO hard to leave your baby at the vet's, isn't it! Don't worry about him a bit...neutering is a very simple procedure.