New guy and a few questions!

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New guy and a few questions!

Luke

Posted : 7/9/2006 10:35:22 PM

Hey folks! This is my first post and I had a few questions about owning a dog. My grandmother owned dogs all her life, and I love them to death. I've always been really fond of dogs and they've been fond of me and I've always wanted one of my own, but unfortunately the parents have always nixed the idea. I've been working on my mom to get us a Norwegian Elkhound, but unfortunately she's a meticulous housekeeper and Elkhounds apparently shed A LOT. So the idea of having an Elkhound inside doesn't fly with her.

Would there be anything wrong with keeping it outside in a large kennel? Because of where they come from their coats are made to repel rain and sleet and such, and their coats are also good at keeping out the cold. From what I've read they love the cold weather and love to play in it. We live in a really temperate area too. It gets down to the teens at night during the winter (although not often) and as high as 90 or so in the summer. I live in South Central Pa.

If I had my way, the dog would be inside 100%. The dog hair wouldn't bother me a bit! And I plan on keeping my pets inside once I get my own place after I graduate college, but as dog owners yourselves, do you think it would be inhumane or in any way harmful to the dog to keep him outside? I really have no idea, I've heard arguments both ways. Any help would be appreciated! Thanks.

Edit: UGH! I put this in the wrong forum by accident! My apologies.

Leesa Lins

Posted : 7/10/2006 3:02:23 AM

I don't know your age, but my mom was not into the hair thing, etc. As a result the dog we got growing up was outside when he was young, and stuck in the basement when he got old. He was an unhappy, snappy, unsocialized dog. I now know that this was not a good way to have a pooch.

If you love your dog, your dog is a very big piece of your family, identity, your everything. A dog can't be part of your everything if they have to stay outside.

Wait until you have your own place and life before you bring a puppy (or rescue) into your life. I truly believe this is the only way it will work for both you and the dog. Don't make a dog be exiled to the yard or run or chain. Wait until you can give the doge the home and life you want it to have.

I have two Chessies, both just over 1yo. The Chessiegirl, that I had before them, started having seizures when she was 10 months old. We spent years and $$ getting her set up with the right meds. She had a neurologist that was a professor at the CSU Vet School that had gone into private practice. Her meds went from $14/mo to $250/mo in a span of 2 months, because the Mfg. bought the company that produced the raw chemical, so they could raise the price "legally". I am epileptic, so I couldn't justify putting her "down", "out of our misery", "to sleep". Nobody put me to sleep, so I couldn't do it to Jazz either. She lived 8+ years seizure free, once we got with Dr. Luttgen, and got her on the right meds. When we had to make the decision to let her go last year, her regular vet, said that she had the best life she ever could have had, because almost everyone probably would have put her down before even trying or going as far as we did. She was 12-1/2 when she left. I feel that we made the best life for her that she could have had.

Make sure you have the time, space and money, before you commit. I know it is hard to wait, but don't make an error to the detriment to the animal. You will regret it for the rest of your life if you can't do everything you can possibly do.

fuzzy_dogs_mom

Posted : 7/10/2006 1:22:52 PM

Temperature and coat aside, I just don't think a dog is going to be a happy camper if he has to live outside and you *the rest of his pack* are living inside. Until you're on your own, maybe you could consider a breed that doesn't shed quite so much - or promise to buy your mom a Dyson Animal vacuum. [][]

Joyce