Bidens get new dog.
- Thread starter PoodleMommy
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All of the service dogs I train came from shelters. Yes, many come with "issues" that we have to work through, but even dogs from the best breeders will have training issues that you'll have to work on. Perfect dogs like Lassie and Air Bud are not born perfect! Many trainers, like me and the other trainers at my organization, are very experienced in evaluating shelter dogs and doing temperment testing, and I'm sure the Bidens could have found a dog with a great temperment from a shelter if they had an experienced trainer doing the temperment tests. Plus, how much time is Mr. Biden HIMSELF actually going to be handling the dog? Not much. He will hire a trainer/dog walker to take care of the dog, and that person presumably will also be experienced in training, at least more experienced than the average pet owner.
Not saying that I think the Bidens SHOULD HAVE gotten a dog from a shelter or rescue, I just want to say that it's definately likely that it could have worked out well if he had chosen to do it. Personally I don't really care where the dog comes from - reputable breeder or shelter/rescue, either way is fine with me.
Not saying that I think the Bidens SHOULD HAVE gotten a dog from a shelter or rescue, I just want to say that it's definately likely that it could have worked out well if he had chosen to do it. Personally I don't really care where the dog comes from - reputable breeder or shelter/rescue, either way is fine with me.
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No ... really?!?
All this time I thought Lassie and Air Bud popped out of their dams' wombs ready and able to save Timmy from the bottom of an abandoned well in the morning and then go off to the b-ball court in the afternoon to shoot baskets like Shaq.
If Biden hires a dog walker as "experienced in training" as the one Bush hired for Barney then expect an "incident", regardless of the dog's origin.
All this time I thought Lassie and Air Bud popped out of their dams' wombs ready and able to save Timmy from the bottom of an abandoned well in the morning and then go off to the b-ball court in the afternoon to shoot baskets like Shaq.
If Biden hires a dog walker as "experienced in training" as the one Bush hired for Barney then expect an "incident", regardless of the dog's origin.
That is sooo cute!
A different article (this one) says the puppy is six weeks old.
OMG, I'm looking at the little news clip along with the article (shows the puppy, AWWW!) and they spelled the breed "German Sheppard."
*is going crazy as the video stutters and freezes* Oh, very cute, the puppy plays tug of war with a bag the photographer set on the floor.
Edit: Okay, and I just saw yet another article . . . this one saying the puppy is THREE months old. I don't know where they're getting these numbers!
It also says a local K-9 police dog trainer was the one who directed Biden to the breeder and that he (Biden) has had two German shepherds in the past.
A different article (this one) says the puppy is six weeks old.
OMG, I'm looking at the little news clip along with the article (shows the puppy, AWWW!) and they spelled the breed "German Sheppard."
*is going crazy as the video stutters and freezes* Oh, very cute, the puppy plays tug of war with a bag the photographer set on the floor.
Edit: Okay, and I just saw yet another article . . . this one saying the puppy is THREE months old. I don't know where they're getting these numbers!
It also says a local K-9 police dog trainer was the one who directed Biden to the breeder and that he (Biden) has had two German shepherds in the past.
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First I want to say that I don't care where he is getting/got his dog from........shelter or good breeder, either way is fine with me.
Secondly, I can see where going with a good breeder might give an edge to a well behaved, well rounded dog. But it's no guarantee if you don't want to put love and time in with it.
Phoebe came from a shelter and she is one of the most well rounded, level headed, cool tempered dogs you will ever meet in your life. She has good judgment on when to be protective and friendly, I would trust her with any child alive as well as strangers coming in and out of my home (or the busy white house) Was she at first? Uh uh. She was very timid, acted as though she had been beaten, and had the most horrendous digging and chewing habits. We spent time and energy training her, loving her, and basically letting her know she was home forever.
If you don't do that with a dog from the BEST breeder, you are still in for trouble and I don't care what breed you get.
Oh you mean like Bush did? :rofl1:
Secondly, I can see where going with a good breeder might give an edge to a well behaved, well rounded dog. But it's no guarantee if you don't want to put love and time in with it.
Phoebe came from a shelter and she is one of the most well rounded, level headed, cool tempered dogs you will ever meet in your life. She has good judgment on when to be protective and friendly, I would trust her with any child alive as well as strangers coming in and out of my home (or the busy white house) Was she at first? Uh uh. She was very timid, acted as though she had been beaten, and had the most horrendous digging and chewing habits. We spent time and energy training her, loving her, and basically letting her know she was home forever.
If you don't do that with a dog from the BEST breeder, you are still in for trouble and I don't care what breed you get.
Oh you mean like Bush did? :rofl1:
Hey, Coop . . . the mistake the Bushes made with obtaining their dogs was getting a Terrier. You really need to be smarter than your dog if you're gonna live with a Terrier :rofl1: Some breeds will just patronize you once they know they've got you outgunned . . . not a Terrier.
The reasons I felt that going with a good breeder in the Bidens' case was a good choice were mainly because a dog in that environment is going to be subjected to all sorts of stresses - everything from cameras being pointed at him/her without warning, lots of strangers, SS comings and goings . . . not a fair challenge to a dog who has maybe already had a rough start in life.
My Bear, the GSD/Akita I got from the pound, was bullet proof - I couldn't have asked for a more poised dog, bar none, but that was really the luck of the draw.
The reasons I felt that going with a good breeder in the Bidens' case was a good choice were mainly because a dog in that environment is going to be subjected to all sorts of stresses - everything from cameras being pointed at him/her without warning, lots of strangers, SS comings and goings . . . not a fair challenge to a dog who has maybe already had a rough start in life.
My Bear, the GSD/Akita I got from the pound, was bullet proof - I couldn't have asked for a more poised dog, bar none, but that was really the luck of the draw.
The guy who helped them pick out the pup and who is going to be doing it's training is a friend of mine who I've trained with for over 3 years. One of my 1st training mentors after I got Gunnar. He's a good guy and knows his stuff- he's the director of K9 for one of our police agencies and is a nationally certified K9 trainer. He travels all over the country helping different agencies with their dogs, giving seminars, etc.
if he was set on a shepherd, i'm glad he went to a good solid breeder for his dog. soooo many wonky shepherd temperaments out there. fearful, anxious, anxious, fearful. not something that's going to work well in the fishbowl of his life. getting a pup from a breeder who breeds for confident dogs is a much better plan imo.
Dan, that's so great to hear. The first thing I thought when I saw the breeder was in PA was "Uh oh, I hope it's not a puppy mill." Thank goodness someone experienced was around to sift through the zillions of bad GSD breeders and find a good one.
TWO terriers! Barney and I think the other one is called Miss Beazley. I think they were from the same litter?
Edit: Never mind, they weren't from the same litter. Miss Beazley is younger.
Regarding the rescue vs breeder thing . . . It's perfectly possible to get a nice dog from a rescue or shelter without "issues." We got my lab / border collie mix from a shelter as a pup and her temperament was AMAZING. But there's nothing wrong with going to a good breeder either, and with a breed like GSDs I imagine it would lower the risk of future health problems quite a bit.
Hey, Coop . . . the mistake the Bushes made with obtaining their dogs was getting a Terrier. You really need to be smarter than your dog if you're gonna live with a Terrier :rofl1: Some breeds will just patronize you once they know they've got you outgunned . . . not a Terrier.
Edit: Never mind, they weren't from the same litter. Miss Beazley is younger.
Regarding the rescue vs breeder thing . . . It's perfectly possible to get a nice dog from a rescue or shelter without "issues." We got my lab / border collie mix from a shelter as a pup and her temperament was AMAZING. But there's nothing wrong with going to a good breeder either, and with a breed like GSDs I imagine it would lower the risk of future health problems quite a bit.
No ... really?!?
All this time I thought Lassie and Air Bud popped out of their dams' wombs ready and able to save Timmy from the bottom of an abandoned well in the morning and then go off to the b-ball court in the afternoon to shoot baskets like Shaq.
If Biden hires a dog walker as "experienced in training" as the one Bush hired for Barney then expect an "incident", regardless of the dog's origin.
All this time I thought Lassie and Air Bud popped out of their dams' wombs ready and able to save Timmy from the bottom of an abandoned well in the morning and then go off to the b-ball court in the afternoon to shoot baskets like Shaq.
If Biden hires a dog walker as "experienced in training" as the one Bush hired for Barney then expect an "incident", regardless of the dog's origin.
I choked when I read that. :rofl1::rofl1:
