The Search is On

I decided to make one thread I will continue to update as I search, it'll be a list of dogs I've either made inquires about or that have been offered to me. I will update this as regularly as possible until a dog is found to avoid making many, many, many more threads:

Well, I think I might have found the dog that has the "click" I've been searching for - now if it is meant to be it'll be, but so far it's been really good. I actually found her owner through craigslist, and originally she was charging $100 but I told her I really couldn't just be throwing $100 around at the moment. I did offer if she wanted to wait that I could pull some money together, but I didn't have it off hand.

We started talking, because I've always fancied the breed it is one of my favorite terriers. I've been around them, our neighbor owned them and I've always fawned over them when we'd see someone walking one at Petsmart or Petco. I told her I what I was offering (a Good Home) and about my current dog, and other animals. She has had several other inquires about the dogs, several offering money but she has so far been waiting for us to set up a time to meet with one another. We've been speaking over a 3-day period so far. This is what I was told:

"The dogs name is Wendy, she is 2-years-old and will be 3 on December 3rd, she is a ball of personality and loves to be loved. She never meets a stranger and loves everyone. Word of caution about Windy tho, if she's headed out of doors she'll turn her head to the side and grab socks or small stuffed animals to take with her out to play. It's hilarious! She has a lot of her own toys that will go with her, she's really a lot of fun and so very loving. Windy's fur is soft and silky and her ears are floppy, she resembles a Maltese but I was assured by the breeder that she is indeed 100% West highland terrier. I have her registration papers here..someplace but I did not register her as I had her spayed and was not going to breed her."

It is a basic summary of the information I got, it was really long e-mail with tidbits about her other Westie she is trying to re-locate. The woman lives locally, we both liked that idea as if she ever wanted to see Wendy or visit it wouldn't be a trip and a half. I'm not sure about the whole "Wind's fur is soft and silky and her ears are floppy resembles a Maltese," I honestly wouldn't care if it is a mix so hopefully she is not just trying to play it off as one as though to impress me. I've still been looking even while talking to her, inspecting other possible avenues. The shelter contacted me about a boxer with hip problems, says it doesn't affect him and that he is currently being fostered and says the woman told them he still acts like a regular dog. He is 2-year-old, Brindle male Boxer who is still playful, and enjoys being a lap dog if allowed. I'm not sure about this one, I'd really have to go look at him and see if he is the one for me as I didn't feel anything by looking at his pictures other than he is a pretty, yet muscular looking dog named Diesel.


The 2-year-old Brindle Boxer named Diesel:








The 2-year-old White Westie named Wendy:




NOTE: All dogs who are mentioned will be introduced to Joans before any final choices are made, thanks

I forgot to mention, I also contacted a woman about a Lab mix. He is really cute, and I think he'd make a great play partner for Joans. However, they have yet to get back to me about seeing him or anything - I am keeping my options open as I don't want to just "settle" as I've said before. I do really love the Westie though, opinions? Here is a photo attached of the Lab mix his name is "Huey-Louis" they found him as a stray and took him and have been caring for him. He does need some obedience training, but I have time as I am a stay at home wife. He is a cutie though, age is unknown and they don't know what he is mixed with - they said the vet thought it was possibly Great Dane. Doesn't matter though, if they do contact me back and I haven't heard word on the Westie I might set up a playdate for Joans

They are all beautiful, I am partial to Boxers but that's just because I personally like them. How do you feel about common terrier traits like digging and chasing small animals? Are you willing to do/get done the grooming required for a Westie (I believe they need clipping or stripping). I forgot how much exercise you said you'd be willing to give, I know Boxers are very high energy and exuberant.

I am a stay at home wife, I am home 8 hours a day by myself - if I haven't already mentioned this my current lab gets 6 hours worth of work out a day sometimes a bit more. Yes I am fine with the grooming of a Westie, I wouldn't even have mentioned her if I was not prepared to for the grooming of a dog. The lady I talked to said this dog is not a digger, nor does she have interest in small animals she'd rather be on your lap and cuddling. The woman with the Westie has a bunny of her own and the dog does not bother with it at all. I do realize that terrier have high prey drives, I fostered a JRT for 2 months and by the end of that two months the dog had learned to leave my rats alone. You can work with an animal, that and my rats are not out of their cage hardly at all but for a bit of handling.

Not all terriers are going to be exactly alike, each dog has its own personality. Although, they can be grouped together in some aspects it isn't like every dog is going to be the same, or have the same interest. I had a Dachshund for 18 years of my life before she died at 19-years old. Those dog are diggers too, but after a work out with me that dog would drop plum tired on the ground and want nothing more than to sleep. You cannot get any dog and not expect it to have some personality trait you don't like. You just have to work around that aspect of it - either train it out of them, or learn to adjust.

I hope that answered your questions

My humble opinion... if you don't have $100 to throw around for a second dog, perhaps it would be wise to just stick to one dog for now. Double the # of dogs you keep, double the cost and double the risk of incurring emergency vet bills.

When Ilsa got sick, I spent about $800 on her in three days. And in the end, I still lost her. Tack on another $180, for euthanasia and cremation. Thank goodness I had more than a thousand dollars in savings... Ilsa was the light of my life, I don't think I could have lived with myself if I hadn't been able to afford her vet care.


What exactly are you looking for in a dog? It seems like you're all over the board... male boxer, female dane, male lab mix, female westie... if I was in your shoes, I'd take time to research breeds and find a breed that really meshes well with my household and my current dogs. Or, contact a few rescue organizations with what you're looking for, and perhaps they'll let you know when something fitting your family turns up.

agreed

I said I can get $100 TOGETHER I just didn't have it to hand her that day, we have around $1200 saved back for emergency vet visits, and we keep adding to that every paycheck. we had around $2400 saved up but it went to surgery for a foster and check up for rats. I am not a bad pet parent and just because I don't have $100 to hand her on any given day, and to be throwing at her for a dog that she says still needs to be Up to date on shots doesn't mean I am not ready for a second dog.

I am not basing a dog off their breed, but rather personality - therefore, yes I am going to be all over the board. I believe I might just go with the Westie, but implying that I shouldn't be getting another dog because I don't have $100 just laying around my house is rather absurd. Just my opinion though, and it is no way defensive I'm just saying how I feel.

Great post Sizzle, I fully agree with the rescue idea too. They also do a lot of fostering, and some may let you go mingle with their foster dogs and get a hands-on 'feel' for the dog and it's personality while it's in a home setting. But I do agree that you are all over the board, from a massive great dane, to a small westie. I think you need to stop and try to decide what some of the things are you want in a dog before diving head first into it.

Thank you all for your opinions, I will keep them in mind while I continue to look for my dog. I haven't got a dog, therefore I have not dove into it "head first" as you are putting it, if I was just going into it blindly I would already have a dog now. I haven't I have waited asked for opinions, and am still looking.

I will get the dog I want, I will base my choice off of personality and how the dog meshes with Joans not over what breed it HAS to be.

From your PM to me...
It seems like you have a pretty low anger threshhold... of course I didn't bother asking you why you didn't have $100, I was just calling it as I saw it. You said in your original post that you "didn't have $100 to throw around at the moment". I read that to mean you didn't have $100 to spend on a dog, and yet you're still actively looking for a dog.

That's a red flag for me, and I'm venturing to say it's a red flag for most of the posters on this forum as well. You don't walk into a store, grab a sweater, take it to the register and say you'll pay for it next week. IMO, if you're actively looking for a dog, you should be prepared to pay for said dog.

I found the dog on cragislist, the woman wanted to meet me that day - she wanted the $100 up front if I wanted to meet the dog THAT day. I told her I didn't have $100 laying around my house, and that if she wanted it I'd have to run by the bank either the next day or later that week as I don't keep money around the house. So we started talking, and she said that'd she'd be willing to throw the fee altogether when she was talking to me. All I said in my PM was that I wasn't sure if you'd read the post again, I do have money saved up but due to the thefts around my area we don't keep much of value here at our apartment. I was a bit offended that you implied I would be looking for a dog if I didn't have money at all, I wouldn't be.

Hope that clears up any questions

Paper, Welcome to Chaz

That being said, your responses are coming off as really defensive. Please keep in mind that we are here to offer our opinions based on the information you've provided, and that you've ASKED for them. Not necessarily in this thread, but others.

Our number one concern in a rescue situation is the dog, so please, don't feel like we are attacking you for your views. All of us, including you, have seen the dogs that are forgotten, abused, and tossed out on the curb just for being themselves, and this goes for their breed as well as their individual personality. When you are picking a dog, breed should play a major factor - personality is a huge factor, but breed tendencies (that can NOT be trained out, especially in purebreds) should also be kept in mind.

It sounds like you've got time and a home for a second dog, so I wish you luck! Please don't be afraid to keep asking questions and doing your research.

Yes, that clears things up a bit.

Please understand that you're new, and we don't know you very well. As someone in the rescue world, you probably know how many hundreds, thousands of people in this world who look for dogs and get dogs before they're ready.

And as someone who has been on this forum for years, I can tell you that we've had many, many, many posters (new AND longstanding members) who have jumped into getting multiple dogs without having the resources to do it right.

When I hear hoofbeats, I think horses, not zebras. Unfortunately.
When you

Indeed, I was merely kind of offended that she would think I would look for a dog if I didn't have money. I wouldn't have bothered but I told the woman in the original e-mail I wouldn't have the money on me today (my husband works we have one car, so I cannot drive to the bank until he gets home) We add to the amount of money we have each paycheck, and I understand the whole rescue thing as well - I've been there fostering. I do weekly trails, if it doesn't work out I do return the dog to their owner/rescue/shelter as I don't feel it is fair for me to just toss it aside. I return it to them so they can seek out a better home. I will keep all opinions in mind though.

I think you need to just take a breath, relax, and not take everyone's reply to you in a defensive manner. Sizzle's post was extremely polite, and was only going by what you stated in the original posts. She wasn't making assumptions, or even being remotely rude. She also gave you advice about rescues, in which I replied in agreement, and even told you about rescues that may let you interact with fosters to see if one is a right fit for you.

I think you need to quit finding offense to everything posted, you've done it *several* times, when members here are only trying to offer the advice that you ask for.

I never said it was rude, I was offended by the fact she would think I'd go out and get a dog I cannot afford. Now that everyone is on the same page, which it was my fault I didn't add on the information needed not to make the assumption, I feel that we are seeing eye-to-eye. I would hope people wouldn't think of me as a person who just gets a dog to "have a dog" and as a person who gives a dog a loving home. Opinions are fine, assumptions however are not. She did assume I didn't have money for the dog, so therefore it is an assumption.

I understand, I apologize for not putting the information in the original post I just didn't think people would read that much into that. Thank you for your information on rescues, I appreciate it

But... she doesn't know you. No one does, you've only been here a few days. She, and anyone else reading, can only go by what you post. Just so you know.

AND I realize that now, when I posted it I didn't think it would be looked at in that light. I, however, had all the facts where you all did not. Now that I see how it could be read differently, I apologize for not adding the information to begin with and leading people to make assumptions.

I was wrong for becoming so defensive, for some reason it comes naturally.

WEll i kept PEpper and i have no money. I never pretended like i could afford her. I said i shouldn't from the beginning. No one would take her. SHe had such awful behaviors i don't know who else woudl dare to follow her in the car by the hour. IT was awful .But i made cut backs. I miss my creme rinse, and nice fabric softener sheets and a dozen other luxeries. I had to ask my mother (i am 48 i know) because if there was an accident, i do not have credit cards nor could i afford one. SHe said to just keep doing what i am doing and that was training her. I have taken every day seriously in trying to make this dog the best dog ever for someone incase i do not beat my illness which is a possibility. THere are a qausizillion people out there doing exactly the same thing especially in this economy. I have given a dog up that was then abused and i know that if i had just toughed it out, we would have been ok. He died. IT's all hard no matter how you look at it. BUt if you say something like you don't have a hundred dollars to throw around you have to expect some flack.

I know i have been good for PEpper. I helped her learn to trust again. I taught her about cars and about staying in the yard and how behaving is far more exciting then being on her own. That cannot be a bad thing.