The dog musing/vent thread

[pinkspore]

I've been reading When Pigs Fly and I'm beginning to get the feeling that every person who writes a dog training book lives on acreage in an enormous house. It seems like most of the training exercises start out with "go somewhere familiar and boring, like your yard, call the dog's name and then run away. Like everyone who has a dog must also have a yard big enough to run more than three steps in. I can go do that training in a public park, but the vast majority of dog owners in my area do not have access to a place that is both boring and large enough for actual running.

Also the suggestion to rent a room in a training center, because clearly indoor dog training facilities are universally available.

I like how Relaxation Protocol involves taking 30 steps to the dog's right, and then to the dog's left. My entire house is not 30 steps wide. Neither is my yard.

 

[Annabell]

We got the most gorgeous purebred English Shepherd at the rescue I volunteer for. Really sad why he ended up there in the first place, but this dog is perfect. Nice size, great temperament, and gets along great with everyone but isn't crazy happy about everything (he's also a beautiful sable color). And he got adopted in about 45 minutes.

First time we had an ES, and probably last. But I finally got to meet one and he was pretty awesome.

 

[Laurelin]

My dog is adorable.

 

[sassafras]

Squash is such a good guy. It's not easy to be big brother to a teenage malinois. He is steadier and more patient than I ever would have thought he could be based on HIS teenage phase. Just the best guy.

 

[straw]

So I found a breeder that seems to produce EXACTLY what I want and sounds like a dream come true. She even shares a whole lot of my views/ideas about general dog ownership like vaccinating schedules, feeding, spay/neuter times, etc.

Drawback: website says she does not have internet or email access at home, is a school teacher and out of work for most of the summer, leaves no phone #. So... I wait until September to hear back?

YOU GUYS I TRACKED HER DOWN. Through a previous puppy buyer! Who forwarded her my info and she emailed me within a couple hours. Plz like me plz like me plz like me. Plz gimme tiny puppy.

(excite)

 

[amberdyan]

YOU GUYS I TRACKED HER DOWN. Through a previous puppy buyer! Who forwarded her my info and she emailed me within a couple hours. Plz like me plz like me plz like me. Plz gimme tiny puppy.

(excite)

That's exciting! Good luck : )

 

[pinkspore]

YOU GUYS I TRACKED HER DOWN. Through a previous puppy buyer! Who forwarded her my info and she emailed me within a couple hours. Plz like me plz like me plz like me. Plz gimme tiny puppy.

(excite)

Yaaaaaaaay! Fingers crossed!

 

[teacuptiger]

YOU GUYS I TRACKED HER DOWN. Through a previous puppy buyer! Who forwarded her my info and she emailed me within a couple hours. Plz like me plz like me plz like me. Plz gimme tiny puppy.

(excite)

Best of luck!!

 

[CrystalGSD]

Someone should seriously ban me from looking on petfinder. I keep looking at all the dogs and I want them, especially the elderly dogs on there. I just want to hug and steal them all!

 

[pinkspore]

There's a widespread belief in prospective dog owners around here, many people believe there is nothing in our shelters but pit bulls and chihuahuas. The city shelter has a poster up all over the place that says "look at the wide variety of dogs available!"

It has a picture of a lab mix, two chihuahuas, and eight pit bulls. Definitely not helping your case, guys.

 

[Ilovedogs56]

Just realized my house is too small for the dog I want. Such sad. Much disappoint.

 

[lancerandrara]

I feel like my luck has run out with adopting a dog. Every time an adoption is about to go through, something or other out of my control goes wrong.

I almost adopted this awesome golden retriever... someone else adopted him before my adoption date was scheduled. I almost adopted a dutch shepherd mix... my landlord suddenly doesn't allow dutch shepherds, even though she allowed them 2 weeks prior. I am an approved adopter (after a home visit) for adopting a greyhound from this rescue, and suddenly the adoption counselor isn't replying to my emails for the past couple weeks.

I always ALMOST adopt this dog or that dog, and something or other goes wrong. What the hell is going on. .___. None of my applications were ever rejected either... it's always something else. I have officially run out of luck. I don't even know what is going on with my dog adopting endeavors. I am officially cursed. OMG. Somebody just adopt a nice and stable handler-focused dog and give him to me. .__.

 

[Locke]

I feel like my luck has run out with adopting a dog. Every time an adoption is about to go through, something or other out of my control goes wrong.

I almost adopted this awesome golden retriever... someone else adopted him before my adoption date was scheduled. I almost adopted a dutch shepherd mix... my landlord suddenly doesn't allow dutch shepherds, even though she allowed them 2 weeks prior. I am an approved adopter (after a home visit) for adopting a greyhound from this rescue, and suddenly the adoption counselor isn't replying to my emails for the past couple weeks.

I always ALMOST adopt this dog or that dog, and something or other goes wrong. What the hell is going on. .___. None of my applications were ever rejected either... it's always something else. I have officially run out of luck. I don't even know what is going on with my dog adopting endeavors. I am officially cursed. OMG. Somebody just adopt a nice and stable handler-focused dog and give him to me. .__.

That is super weird and really really sucks.
Have you looked into craigslist or similar sites where people are rehoming their pets? You might have better luck that way?

And who knows, maybe those dogs you almost adopted will have unseen issues, and fate is just holding out to get you the best possible companion

 

[StillandSilent]

The boys and I have spent the past few days at my mothers. This is Glitch 's 2nd visit ever.

He has been a rock star. No accidents (her house is many times the size of my apartment), no inappropriate chewing, excellent manners. I'm delighted with my little Tasmanian Devil

 

[lancerandrara]

That is super weird and really really sucks.
Have you looked into craigslist or similar sites where people are rehoming their pets? You might have better luck that way?

And who knows, maybe those dogs you almost adopted will have unseen issues, and fate is just holding out to get you the best possible companion

I'm dying at how weird it is (more bad dying than laughing). I swear it shouldn't be this difficult to adopt a good dog, right? LOL. I've actually been actively trying to adopt a dog for the past 3 months, and every one of my adoption attempts have failed in some way.

I've actually checked craigslist a few times and emailed a few owners before, but those dogs also were adopted/bought by the time the owners got back to me. I just assumed it was a normal thing for craigslist dogs to disappear fast.

Hopefully this is just fate being crazy.

 

[Laurelin]

Shelters? That's where I found Hank and they did 0 screening at all.

 

[meepitsmeagan]

Mother of doG I forgot how expensive it is to buy more discs.

I just want to play with my dog, people.

 

[stardogs]

Mother of doG I forgot how expensive it is to buy more discs.

I just want to play with my dog, people.

Blems. Only way to do it!

 

[meepitsmeagan]

Blems. Only way to do it!

You can't choose colors on blems though!

 

[lancerandrara]

Shelters? That's where I found Hank and they did 0 screening at all.

Funny story... I just saw a nice malinois at a shelter last night. I called about him this morning, and drove 40 minutes there to check him out at lunch.

He was adopted by someone 1 HOUR before I arrived. One hour. I still saw him sitting in his kennel though, but on reserve for whoever adopted him. o_o He looked like a great dog to me, and apparently no behavioral issues, was taught the basic commands by his previous owner and all.

I think I may actually be cursed.

/adds new dog adoption curse story to my current list of curse stories