Another Puppy???

D

dogs2birds

Cathlete
Okay all of you animal lovers - I do a lot of work on various committees with our local animal shelter (was on the board, but resigned as I like the idea of "just" being a volunteer SO MUCH better). So I get this call yesterday and then an e-mail about this little pit bull puppy they got in. He is only about 8-10 weeks old and came in with a broken jaw. They suspect abuse - long story. So although we don't need THREE dogs, I just had to go see him. He is ADORABLE (see the "More Dogs" album in my picturetrail for a pic of him). They know that we have two pit bulls and they really want him to go to a special home b/c of his rough start in life, somewhere he will be safe and loved and they felt like our home would be very special for him (do they know how to work it, or what???). Two dogs is really manageable and it's pretty calm around here. A puppy would certainly change everything. Our Amber is only about 2 and still wants to play all the time but Macy won't have any of it, so it would be fun for Amber, but it might drive me nuts. :p But the poor little guy...

Any thoughts from multiple dog homes??? A gal I work with is getting her fourth Lab tonight! She had five at one point. And her dogs live forever and ever. She also has a 6 year old daughter, a cat and a bunch of horses. How does she do it?

Susan

"Until one has loved an animal, a part of one's soul remains unawakened." - Anatole France

http://www.picturetrail.com/dogs2birds
 
I think he should become the new member of your family!! I know puppies turn your house upside down but it is so much fun!! We have 2 dogs (one husky and one is a springer mix) and one cat. My mother has 3 dogs and she loves it. We both volunteer at an animal rescue also. But the most important thing is that he gets a good home, he deserves it. I can't believe anyone would harm any animal. I vote for you to take him!!:7 I just saw his picture. he is sooooo cute!!!!!!!!!!
 
I don't have any pets:( DH and I have been too busy traveling and working to give the pet any time (it would not have been fair to them), but now we feel we want to spend more time at home and are thinking about getting a puppy. Any thoughts on how we should go about picking one out.

Robin

ETA: I think you should take the puppy too;)
 
Ah, 2 votes already! Robin - do I have the perfect puppy for you. }( Wow - I don't know how you would choose the right puppy for you. We're never lucky enough to choose puppies since they somehow always find us! I'm sure someone on here has some good recommendations on how to pick the right dog for your lifestyle, etc. Dog personalities can be so different depending on breed, so it's good to find one that can thrive with the kind of lifestyle you lead. Good luck and be sure to let us know!

I will say that I hope you can find one from a shelter or rescue. There are SO MANY dogs who need homes and you CAN find puppies.

Susan

"Until one has loved an animal, a part of one's soul remains unawakened." - Anatole France

http://www.picturetrail.com/dogs2birds
 
It would seem so strange to purchase an animal (other than a fish, or a bird, or a lizard, I guess). The shelters are so great!

Susan, just cave early and love the puppy!!!!!! What a CUTIE!!!
 
Oh my..he is a cutie!! They are so hard to resist when they are babies.
Did you decide anything? I think if you and DH are up for the challenge again, go for it. Why not?
Lori:)
 
Boy Susan, he is adorable! This is a question only you can answer. I love dogs so much and I really miss my babies (they're both in pookie heaven). DH and I were just talking last night about whether or not we want another dog and I'm just not ready. As much as I loved those daring and dauntless dachshunds, they were a lot of work and a constant worry when we had to go on trips. I realize it was MY problem, but I worried about those 2 like crazy every time we had to go out of town, to the point where it ruined my vacations. And as they got older they were more work. I had dogs that were kind of rescued. Our Maggie had health problems from the time she was a pup and was on steroids her entire life (she had an autoimmune skin condition and a heart problem). Well, it's a long story, but needless to say, to take on another dog is something that you must decide for yourself. He'd be hard to pass on, that's for sure. He is too cute for words:+! Good luck in your decision making.

Michele
 
The only advice I would give you before you take in this new puppy is to consider the additional vet costs you're going to have. You'll have yearly vaccination's times three, yearly heartworm preventative times three, etc.

We have four dogs (all rescues, I've been in rescue work for years now so I know all about how hard it is to turn your back on the special cases...:) ) but it is expensive when I take all four in for their yearly physicals and vaccination's.

Two dogs are very manageable, I do remember the days of two dogs....three dogs adds a whole nuther dimension to the household...and then you say well, why stop at three, what's one more?!! And a gargantuan unruly beast of a golden retreiver no less.

Seriously though, just think about the additional expense the third pet will mean. And also where will he sleep, he'll need his own kennel and where will that go, etc. Ah, and last but not least...you'll get to go through potty training all over again and hopefully obedience training too.:D

Goodluck!

Editing: For Goodness Sake! He is a darling! And you'll have a calico household of dogs since they're all different colors!

I wanted to make a suggestion to you as well...you could always foster the puppy until he is fully healed and fully and properly socialized. Then he will be ready to make a good pet for someone looking for a pit bull. I have fostered many dogs over the years and it's hard work because you get to do all the dirty work for another owner...you'll be housetraining and obedience training and socializing the dog to be a lifelong companion for another owner down the road but...at least the dog is not living his life in a shelter kennel waiting for someone to want him/want his particular breed.
 
Susan, that is just pulling at my heart strings! My mom was always taking in strays when we were kids, I think that we had seven cats at one time and we have had... I couldn't even count on my fingers and toes that dogs that we have had!

Just because he (does he have a name yet?) was abused it would be impossible for me to say no just because I wouldn't trust anyone else to love him the way he needs to be, though I am sure that there are a great many people who could care for him. I will tell you, I don't think it could be much harder or expensive than three kids! ;) :p He is so cute, too!!!! I know that if you decide to keep him then you will be an awesome mommy! (and I know that there is nobody better than you for the job!), and if you decide not to then he will find a good home, too. I know that you will make the bestestest decision! :)

Missy
 
Oh, he's so cute! I am dying to get a second pug (a black one, female) to keep my baby company (I have heard they are much easier in pairs), but my SO keeps threatening to leave me. We also have three cats. :)

Anyway, he is really adorable and his story is so sad. I suspect you already took him home, but if not, perhaps the fostering idea is a good one. My SIL is involved in a dachsie rescue and they always end up living with at least four (very willful!) dogs. I don't know how they do it, but it does work out for them.

Let us know what you decide!

Marie
 
Oh my gosh, he's absolutely adorable. I don't think I'd be able to say no to that little face. Send him up here to me. I've been thinking a lot lately about rescuing a friend for Mr. Prancy Pants (aka Gilbert).;)

Seriously, though, the fostering idea is a good one, if you think you could handle giving him up when a permanent home is found for him. Otherwise, I say go for it! What's one more dog in a houseful?:)
 
Thanks you guys! We've done nothing yet, as our shelter is closed on Wednesdays. I'm sure I'll hear something today. And yes, vet costs are something to consider, as it seems that all of the animals we take in have some sort of disease! Our very first pit bull had terrible skin allergies and ultimately that's what ended his life (all that prednisone) and our next one had some major disease where his body couldn't process protien and all the meds couldn't save him in the end. This little guy's skin is kind of red, but the gal who had been taking him home at night, whose DH said she could no longer do so, said she gave him a bath in Head and Shoulders!!! Why on earth???

So we're still enjoying our TWO dogs and four parrots right now. We've only had just two dogs for about 6 months (we had to put our Rottie down last year) and it sure is nice. But he sure is cute - and smaller than a Rottie. :) I'll let you all know if we end up with him.

Oh yes - the fostering idea. I thought of that, but that would be as good as taking him permanently. I doubt I could give him up. I would always worry about him.

Shelley, I would love to send him your way. But doesn't Canada have a pit bull ban unless a dog has been "grandfathered" in and wears a muzzle in public? We could disguise him!

Susan

"Until one has loved an animal, a part of one's soul remains unawakened." - Anatole France

http://www.picturetrail.com/dogs2birds
 
Susan, I'm not sure if it's the whole country or just Ontario, but yes, we have a "ban". My friend has a pitty and he got caught yesterday out without a muzzle on her. Just got a warning this time though. I don't think it will be the end either. Why stop at pitties? How about Rotties and Shepherds? They're "bully breeds" too, aren't they?

*shakes head in frustration*

Maybe we could put one of those fake nose and glasses combos on him;)
 
I am not an expert but I do watch Animal precinct on Animal planet, I would do some tests on the puppy to make sure there was no damage psychological, first put food in front of him and try and pet him and things to see is reaction to that, also need to see how he is with other dogs, abuse animals will sometimes be more aggressive or possesive and or just duck, but I say take him in and give him the love and home he deserves
 
3 dogs is alot different then 2 dogs as someone already posted. So, really think this through. He's adorable by the way.:) and I hope he gets a loving home.

Here's my experience with multiple dogs. (all these dogs are no longer with us, sadly)
I started with one Whippet, loved him so much, I thought he needed a buddy. So, in came a rescue whippet. First dog was devastated no longer being the top dog. So, then I go and get another rescue whippet. 2nd dog devastated that he is no longer top dog, 1st dog turns into a total whimp by this time. 3rd dog rules the roest(sp?).
What I'm saying is, the more dogs you get, the more the pack instincs kick in and personalites change, and not always for the better. I also had a Labrador with these 3 whippets and he didn't care about the first 2 dogs, but he and the 3rd top dog didn't get along at all. I kept all 4 dogs for the rest of their lives because I loved them, but I ALWAYS felt that I did an injustice to my first dog by tearing apart his perfect little happy world he thought he had as top dog in the house.

So, I've made a promise to myself to only have one dog at a time. And I've kept to that promise for 3 1/2 years with my one Rhodesian. Although I'm contantly checking out the Rhodesian Ridgeback/whippet rescue sites. LOL!
 
Robin, There are several websites that can help you decide what type of dog will fit with you and your life style. Do an internet search on "choosing your breed". Some sites even have you take a questionaire and then tell you what they think would suit you. Knowing the traits of the dog before you get one is very helpful. Like will it require a lot of grooming, is this breed active or mellow? Good luck in your search. I've always had at least one dog (some big, some small) and I wouldn't know what to do without one.

Jean
 
Hey ...

I have just got to say .. I am a LONG time dog lover .. I love all breeds .. prefer the bulldogish breeds .. they just seem smarter and more human like than the other breeds. In the past I have owned German Sheppards, Rotties, Beagles, Dachounds, Blue Tick hounds, pit bulls, American Bulldogs, strays (Heinz 57's), Rat Terriers, and French Mastiffs.

The most I had at one time was a male beagle, female pit bull, male pit bull, male Rottie and a female Rottie. the male beagle was first and thought he was the alfa male .. when we got the male pit (puppy from the female pit) .. he became the alpha male and we had to keep them seperated .. they didn't get along too well sometimes. The male Rottie (pup from the female Rottie) was kept seperate (fenced in huge back yard to himsellf) b/c he got hit by a log truck and only had 3 legs .. he got along with ALL the dogs though but I was scared they would hurt him. The females got along fine. The beagle lived to be 17, the female rottie lived to be 14, the male rottie lived to be 14, the male pit lived to be 13 ..

Now I have a male French Mastiff (Bordeaux) and a female French Mastiff .. INSIDE dogs .. LOL .. they really are human like .. they think they are human .. and a female stray pit (she stays outside)... they all get a long .. and there are NO problems what so ever. The stray must have been abused and when she found us had heartworms and was pregnant .. in which we treated the heartworms and spayed her .. she is now healthy - happy - and spoiled - and we should have named her Lotto .. b/c she hit the lottery when she found us .. she has access to the entire yard .. has her own house and loves all of us including the two spoiled inside dogs.

So my advice is go for the puppy .. too cute to resist. Sounds like you have the love it takes to raise a happy home of pets .. no matter what they are or where they came from ..

I don't believe the dogs are born bad .. they are made bad ... if you get the dog from a pup YOU influence it on how it will be .. you have the control on how to raise it in a loving home with other animals .. and like kids there is always a time when tempers will flare .. and like a parent you have to make the proper adjustments ..

Whether strays or high bred dogs the owner and his/her kindness and love make the dog.

(I find the high bred expensive dogs do seem to have more human like troubles .. like allergies .. etc - the strays I have owned rarely have problems ..)
 
I personally find ANY animal a bully if they have that in them. I've had shepherds all my life and they weren't a bully. However I did have a pit/terrier mix I rescued from a shelter. That dog honestly is the worst dog I've ever had. My family had a little shi tzu and he was a bully. A friend of mine had a Cairn Terrier, that little rat sized dog and he was a bully. I find smaller dogs more of a bully than big dogs. I even had a cat that was a bully with people. She was a strange one, all right. LOL Dogs become what you train them to become. Some sure are stubborn but that goes for any breeds even the ones who are supposed to be so obedient. I personally don't care for pit bulls. They're handsome dogs but I don't care for them. I know some people love them and trust them but not me.

I also feel more than 2 dogs can be trouble especially if you're not home most of the day. It's more costly and who knows? A new pup could make your household worse. I'd love to have a houseful of animals but i can't. I always keep the dogs and cats people dump on my farm. I feel bad for them and I know they will have a good home with us. 99% of my dogs and cats were dumped on the farm by people.

Lisa
 
This certainly is a big decision so I understand your trepidation no matter how cute the puppy is. As has been mentioned, you will probably be seeing more pack behavior which you know means you will have to make sure they all know YOU are in charge. The vet bills and food bills will be higher.

BUT, you will be doing a real service for that poor little guy by providing a loving home. This is such a positive it kind of erases all the negatives, doesn't it?

Is the situation such that it doesn't work out, the puppy can be given back? I know when we adopted our Sophie, the agreement with the shelter was that if for any reason things didn't work out, we would make sure she was returned back to them. Knowing this took the risk out of our decision.
 
I have two dogs right now, and I know when friends have us puppysit, a third dog seems to make a huge difference. However, that could be because she's not one of "our" dogs and she has different rules (she's a good dog and very smart, so it's not that big a deal).

Although after looking at the pup, I don't know how you could refuse! What a cutie! Good luck with whatever decision, although I think that puppy needs someone who knows pits, and will teach him to be a loving, sweet, social dog...
 
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