thats pretty rad

I'm Big Business and i approved this message.

2/3/2009 11:17:37 PM

Quote :

"Getting a dog from the closest breeder will generally insure you an inferior dog. Just not enough breeders that give a damn that you are likely to live near any of them."

Because getting a dog from a breeder half way across the country that you haven't met, can't visit and no nothing about other than their ad and or website is the best way to ensure a quality dog.

Besides, it doesn't sound like the OP's parents are in this for show lines, more likely just a dog that they're roughly familiar with.

2/3/2009 11:44:12 PM

The working lines are sometimes even harder to find that show lines, but make better pets IMO because of the lack of dumbassishness from breeders and it's harder to hide health problems in a working dog.

There are a few good breeders in this area for a couple of breeds that I know of, but some won't be having litters for a year or two. If you want a pup NOW (not advisable) then it's tough because many breeders sell the pups before they are born.

Like I said, I don't think there's anyone locally that'll meet my needs and I'll most likely fly out (possibly out of the country) to meet with someone and evaluate a dog before accepting it, but that's a little different than what's going on here. If I end up getting a dog that's just a pet I'll go with breed rescue. Still might have to drive/fly since dutch shepherds and mals are not too easy to find, much less a cat friendly rescue dog that'd do well at frisbee

2/4/2009 12:35:31 AM

3 pages?

let it go people

2/4/2009 1:33:35 AM

dog came last night. he rode in the cabin on the plane and not in the cargo space. he didn't make a peep in the car and didn't cry at all last night. he's asleep at my feet right now, which is nice since all he has wanted to do since we brought him home is play constantly. so yeah, looks like he was really traumatized by the whole ordeal.

/thread

[Edited on February 6, 2009 at 12:20 PM. Reason : .]

2/6/2009 12:19:23 PM

^I'm confused. You said he was really traumatized, but based on your description it sounds like he was totally fine.

Were you using sarcasm to defend your cheap parents for not wanting to shell out two hundred bucks to make life a little easier for an animal?

That's the only part that bothered me about your story. Your parents are clearly baller, getting some fancy pants dog. But then they're willing to ship the little guy across the country and back to save two hundred bucks? It doesn't make sense. It's trashy. And it's weird that you would be so out and about it.

I tried to be polite in my two posts so far, but since you're being sassy, I had to get the T-word out there.

TRASHY, TRASHY, TRASHY

Now...[/thread]

2/6/2009 1:17:27 PM

^ i'll give you the benefit of not realizing my parents had him sent directly to greensboro. that's my fault for neglecting to post that. and my parents aren't "baller," nor is it a "fancy pants dog." i come from a middle class family and live in a modest house. i'll let your "cheap" and "trashy" accusations slide since, like i said, you didn't realize the dog was sent straight to greensboro.

NOW [/thread]

2/6/2009 1:41:24 PM

Like I said, the CHEAP and TRASHY thing is to buy a dog from a shit breeder just because they are local. I require more from a dog than most owners, so unless I want a pet from a rescue I'll likely have to import a dog, or buy an import that didn't work out for someone else.

No word back from the chessie breeder, I think they realize anyone asking about OFA numbers won't touch the shit they are passing off as puppies. Better to spend a several hundred more getting a dog from healthy genes than $3k a hip for replacements.

2/6/2009 1:58:13 PM

^^AHAHA



[Edited on February 6, 2009 at 2:28 PM. Reason : ]

2/6/2009 2:27:28 PM

I hope all these holier than thou people who insist on shelter dogs get one that mauls them or something.

2/6/2009 5:53:05 PM

Haha, most of the inbred purebred "papered" dogs are more likely to do the biting.

2/6/2009 6:39:15 PM

^

I think a dog with teeth is most likely to do maulings

2/6/2009 7:20:21 PM

^^I would actually love to see a survey done on that. If properly trained and raised responsibly from a young age no dog (pure breed or rescue) should behave in that manner.

My problem with rescue dogs is that people spend tons of resources on animals with such severe issues that they really should not be adopted out. Our first rescue dog was certifiably insane. No trainer or behaviorist could calm him and no amount of exercise could either. 24/7 he acted like we were in the Cold War and the Soviets were about to bomb our home. The second rescue was purported to be great with small animals, a month later our cat was in the hospital, the dog just jumped on him randomly and mauled him with no provocation.

We had a bad run with rescues, so I am very hesitant to recommend them. Yes, some can be wonderful dogs, but a lot of them are beyond fucked up. We finally ended up with a purebred puppy (so we knew EXACTLY what to expect) and could not be happier. If this dog ends up messed up, at least we know it's our own fault. And if you do your research, there is no reason to expect an inbred dog with all the inherent problems.

I cannot blame anyone for wanting to know exactly what they are getting with a dog. You should not have to turn your home into a sanitarium to accommodate your dog.

2/6/2009 8:17:05 PM

haah at all the idiots in this thread that act like they know anything about how aircraft ship animals

im sure they arent tossed amongst the luggage....

then you come in here all high and mighty about not getting shelter dogs and how stupid this dudes parents are...shut the fuck up

2/7/2009 6:30:31 AM

^Dude, dogs die during shipping every year.

The airlines advertise this fact. And until recently, they've discouraged people from doing it at all.

2/7/2009 7:26:40 AM

I can train a free shelter dog to not take a shit in the house just as well as some dog shipped in a fucking crate from Abu Dhabi for $10,000.

Both of them will chase after a stick if I throw it far enough.

I don't see the appeal.

2/7/2009 11:10:12 AM

When someone purchases a particular breed, they are paying for a certain amount of predictability in size, temperament, and trait. I am all for keeping the stray pet population down and adopting from a shelter, but people do have reasons for purchasing a purebred dog and I do not fault them for that.

If you decide that you want a purebred and do not want to adopt from a breed rescue, I think that it is far better to purchase pet quality dogs from reputable breeders who breed show quality dogs than it is to purchase from local backyard hobby breeders -- even if that means that you have to have the dog shipped.

2/7/2009 1:03:10 PM

Quote :

"I can train a free shelter dog to not take a shit in the house just as well as some dog shipped in a fucking crate from Abu Dhabi for $10,000. Both of them will chase after a stick if I throw it far enough. I don't see the appeal."

But can you train it to corner and hold an intruder, search the house on command, bring you a beer, compete in agility trials, refuse food from anyone else but you, or other useful stuff? I prefer shelter and rescue animals, but it's not possible to find a suitable one sometimes.

2/8/2009 3:04:05 PM

yea you have no idea how the shelter animals have been raised (or not) and no idea of their background

2/8/2009 3:34:30 PM

Belgians FTW.

2/8/2009 4:10:46 PM

^^^ why wouldn't you be able to train a shelter dog to do those things?

2/8/2009 4:21:50 PM

Quote :

"yea you have no idea how the shelter animals have been raised (or not) and no idea of their background"

That's fairly easy to figure out. The problem for me is that most animals in the shelter were bred to be house pets. People in general prefer house pets that are pretty, lazy, and stupid so it doesn't work too well if you want a dog to train. Breed rescues (border collie, Belgian shepherd) can be a good place find potential working dogs, but only if someone in the rescue knows what kind of dog you need for those activities and can suggest the right one for you.

2/8/2009 4:23:00 PM

Quote :

"most animals in the shelter were bred to be house pets."

Most animals in the shelter weren't bred for anything. They were the result of two unfixed cats or dogs having sex when they shouldn't have had reproductive organs in the first place.

And why do you keep going on about working dogs? Congratulations on wanting one? Most people on this board have zero need of a working dog and don't have the resources to properly own one anyway.

[Edited on February 8, 2009 at 5:24 PM. Reason : .]

2/8/2009 5:23:35 PM

^She just likes to dazzle us with her extensive "knowledge"

2/8/2009 7:47:25 PM

Quote :

"And why do you keep going on about working dogs?"

That's the only time you'd need a dog that wasn't from the shelter.

For a house pet, shelter dogs are better. Shelter dogs can be trained to be assistance dogs, they can certainly make fine pets. There isn't any reason to get a purebred, unless you need a working dog.

2/9/2009 11:54:43 AM