Possibly getting a dog, but really dumb question...

**anna_66** · 08-09-2003, 07:40 AM

First off, congratulations on the new job! It sounds wonderful

Second, big, little, it doesn't matter. Do what your heart tells you!

Let us know what you decide!

**Rachel** · 08-09-2003, 08:16 AM

I am so excited for you having *emotionally connected* with another dog. As the others have said, that is what is important.

I've had big and little and mediums and there are advantages and disadvantages to each.

Personally with your husband not being a dog person, per se, I just have an inkling that a little dog will be easier for him to adjust to.... they don't take up that much room in the bed...

**wolflady** · 08-09-2003, 11:27 AM

Thank you so much everyone! I knew I could count on you all to advise me in the right way

My hubby and I are going to go over to the shelter as soon as it opens today (noon) so he can see her and interact with her. I'm thinking of inviting the neighbors to go with us because they are dog people too

This little dog has shiny black eyes, and she has a mini doxie build but her fur is a little bit longer and silkier. She has a foxy face, sort of like a pom face perhaps? She's all black, but when the sun hits her fur, you can see copper or brown highlights. She has some white bun hair

Hmmm....names...I hadn't thought of that. I'm all about unique sounding names and she looks like she would have a whimsical type name

I've always liked Koskha (means cat in Russian) and she would be just one of the cats, right? LOL

Too bad her probation period isn't over today!

I'll have to wait until tomorrow to bring her home, but as long as I have my name first in line, everything should go ok. I will let you know how our visit goes today!

**hugs**
Karen

**Uabassoon** · 08-09-2003, 11:31 AM

Hopefully everything goes well and tomorrow you can bring your new baby home and show us lots and lots of pictures

**Pam** · 08-09-2003, 11:34 AM

Oh Karen this is so exciting!!!!! Andy says to tell Marius not to worry. Doggies aren't really that bad!! LOL! I'll be looking forward to your next note! (((hugs)))

**cocker_luva** · 08-09-2003, 01:14 PM

Originally posted by wolflady
I have always been a "big dog person".

She has sort of a doxie build (long and low to the ground), but has silky hair and a foxy face!

also remember she just might be a 'big dog in a little dog body'.

**TheAntiPam** · 08-09-2003, 03:34 PM

I sure hope today's meeting goes well for your possibility-pup! Did you ask Mr. Fish his opinion on the deal?

**Rachel** · 08-09-2003, 06:52 PM

The suspense...the suspense...

**robinh** · 08-09-2003, 07:48 PM

I wish we'd hear something. I have my fingers crossed that all goes well and that the pup comes home to stay.

**wolflady** · 08-09-2003, 10:43 PM

Well....we went over to the shelter today and I brought out the little black dog for Aaron. Surprisingly, there was another dog Aaron also wanted to see, so we got that one out too. Bad idea. I loved them both!! I think we spent over 2 hours in the backyard with both of the dogs. We finally decided to try the smaller one (the one I had originally wanted to go see) and we were able to....bring her home today!!!!!!!!!

We went over to Pet Co. to pick up some things because I have absolutely no dogs things here at home!! Now, I have no idea what to do with her! LOL

I put a baby gate up, so she's in the kitchen right now. We also bought a crate because I wasn't sure what to do with her the first few nights of acclimation. Any advice or tips would be greatly appreciated! I have no idea if she's potty trained, most likely not, but she hasn't pottied all day! Should I leave her in her crate overnight tonight?

I gave her a bath and currently we have her in the crate while we're eating dinner. She is crying so much! How should I go about acclimating her as a housedog? How about potty training??

I will be sure to take some digital pics and post them soon!!!!!! In the meantime, here is her picture from the shelter website. This picture isn't very good, but it will tide you all over until I take some of my own!!!

**hugs** from a very excited new doggie mom!!!
Karen

P.S. Mr. Fish approves

**Aspen and Misty** · 08-09-2003, 10:47 PM

AHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

CONGRATS!!!

I can not absolutly wait to see pictures!!!! CONGRATS!

Ash

**Byakko's Mom** · 08-10-2003, 05:12 AM

Congrats on your new baby.How exciting.I love my furbabies, they are my family and the days they first come home are very exciting and tiring, like a new child.It is your new child.Let your baby learn to love the crate.It should be a safe place for quiet comfort to go for peace like their den would be.Then if there is ever a need like after a spay or neuter or any recovery there is a safe recovery place or a safe car ride or place for traveling and just their special place.Mine all learned to love their crates,leave the door open when you are around so she can freely go in and out and maybe a special towel/blanket that you have cuddled with your scent since there are no litter mates or mothers scent to put with her.The crate is a wonderful safe place to have not to spend 10 hours a day in but for when you are gone until she is safe in a room or to be left in the house.I don't recall if you said her age?As for house breaking some depends on her age but until you know if she isn't to young every 1/2 hr to hour at first I would take her out and look for signs of sniffing,heading toward the door a different tone in her whine, you wil learn her cries it won't take long.Take her out when she wakes ,after she eats or plays,when she drinks alot.You can take her to the same spot say a word like potty and train her to go on comand.There are techineques on how to do this all over the web.I think at greatpets.com as well.
I put the crate next to me when I slept so mine knew I was close of course if she cries constantly that could be tough,a little soft music,a clock or something may help,there is always a few days or week of adjustment while you both get to know each other.I am trying to hit the high points not to make this to long and it is really late or early Am and I haven't slept yet so I may miss alot but feel free to ask or email and I am sure others will come along with suggestions that have been through this.I have just recently been through this with 4 different breeds from small pom/pappillin/mix to a shiba Inu to a med lab mix to a giant breed Leonberger that are all almost a year old now.The shiba turned a year on the 7th of Aug and the Lab will be a year the 7th of Sept so I still remember some of this.They came to me from 7 weeks to 7 months.Good luck,it will all work out just hang in there ask lots of questions if you need to and there are lots of good sites with good info on the web.Another good site and board is www.greatpets.com they are very helpful and have some just plain information that you can look up from well known trainers and the board also has trainers and vets as well.These are my two favorite boards.I have to get some sleep for now,please keep us posted and I can't wait for more pics too.I wish I had a digital camera and was more computer literate.
Laurie

**jenluckenbach** · 08-10-2003, 05:55 AM

She has a very sweet face. Congratulations!!

**Pam** · 08-10-2003, 06:53 AM

Karen your note is so exciting and I feel like I was there!!! You did such a good job describing your meeting today with your new little love. She is absolutely a doll baby!! She has the same look on her face that my Ripley did when I first saw him. It just seems to say '''''' PULEEZE take me home!!! ''''' Maybe it is an 'inside thing' that rescue dogs teach each other!

LOL!

The info you just got from Byakko's Mom is terrific. I really can't add much to that at all. I remember when we got Bella I had the crate downstairs at night and she cried and cried. This is where I had kept the crate in the past when I had my other poodles and it was OK for them. Through my wonderful friends at Pet Talk, I learned to move the crate upstairs to my bedroom at night. No more crying! She just wanted to be near us! I also had just gone "to look" at the puppies and really was just like you are now - totally unprepared! I had to quickly run out to Walmart and get a baby gate and some other things. (Thankfully the breeder had given me some food! LOL!)

Was your little one a 'turn in' or a stray? The reason I am asking is to find out if you know any of her history. It might help you better understand her needs. I think the fact that she hasn't pottied gives me some indication that this cutie just might be housebroken or at least an attempt has been made to teach her. When I first took Ripley out of the cage at the shelter to walk him outside, he stopped right outside in the yard and lifted his leg for about 5 minutes!

LOL! I pretty much knew right then that he was housebroken. He had been holding it until he was in a proper place.

I also found out that at his last home his people had a doorbell. We don't have one. We just have a knocker. One night while watching TV a doorbell rang on the TV and Ripley barked and went over to the door. It's these little things that can give us insight as to these cuties' past lives.

Oh Karen I am just in love with your new doggie!!!!

I am afraid that if I was there I would have been some serious competition for you! LOL! Isn't it funny the way things turn out? Here you had that other dog snatched right out from under you and now you are a mommy to such a sweetheart!!!! I couldn't be happier and will wait with anticipation to hear more about her and of course see lots more PICTURES!!!! Three cheers for Aaron for being so agreeable to this adoption! What do Marius, Scooter and Sergei have to say?!! LOL! Please do keep us posted!!! ((((hugs)))) and CONGRATULATIONS!!!
Love, Pam