Thinking of getting a new dog

[AuntieMom]

I really should stay away from Petfinder. I was thinking about what you said about a Brittany/GSP and decided to see what was on there.

There is a Brittany/GSP in an Illinois shelter. He is not beautiful like Leena but he has such a sweet face. http://www.petfinder.com/petnote/displa ... d=14502188

[Kerplunk105]

I really should stay away from Petfinder. I was thinking about what you said about a Brittany/GSP and decided to see what was on there.

There is a Brittany/GSP in an Illinois shelter. He is not beautiful like Leena but he has such a sweet face. http://www.petfinder.com/petnote/displa ... d=14502188

He's kinda goofy looking I know I def want a female.

[MaggieRocks]

Oh, I think he's handsome! But I know what you mean about a female...that's my preference, also. (One man in the house is enough, lol!)

[Jessica]

He looks like a Britt/English pointer rather than GSP. He has pretty eyes though You'll definitely know when you find the right dog, and I have to agree with everyone else when they say that it's in no way your fault what happened to Leena. Eli has gotten away from me a few times, one time specifically that I'll never forget...

We took him to Indiana where some family has a lake house, I took him out of the car and asked my 15 yr old brother in law to hook him to the lead I had tied around a tree. He hooked the lead to the tag ring instead of the ring attached to the collar, Eli pulled once and off he went, the ring pulled apart so he was running loose in unfamiliar territory with no tags I followed him slowly because of course if you run he thinks its a game. Well he wouldn't come to me and ended up on the main road which was only one block away. He zigzagged across that street at least 3 times, it was one of those rural roads that has no speed limit. The only thing I could think was "I'm going to watch my dog get hit by a car" I was in tears in my flip flops trying to catch him, screaming at the top of my lungs at him to stop when he caught some kind of scent on a fence and stopped to mark it his own. I caught up to him, grabbed him by the skin of his butt and threw his 50lb booty over my shoulder and carried him back to the house.

He stayed on-leash the rest of the trip and I was a total nervous wreck. It was only by the grace of God that neither of us got hit by a car, because none of them slowed down when they saw us in the road. Eli now has one of those tags that rivets to his collar also, thanks to that episode.

Also, being a person that screens applicants by phone and does home visits, I would not reject someone because something like that happened, unless of course they felt no remorse about it. It's just one of those things, and it means Leena was needed elsewhere.

[Kerplunk105]

Well, I am supposed to be going to visit a (GSP) breeder near me around November. He is supposed to be breeding his female in December and if that all goes well, I would be getting a puppy in around April.

In the mean time, I am getting a Service Dog pup to raise. She is coming on Saturday. Her name is Lily. She is around 8 months and a Golden Retriever.

[Canned Ice]

I think raising a service dog pup is a great idea!

[Kerplunk105]

This will be my 16th one lol Its nice because they are only here for 3-6 months.

[AuntieMom]

That is a generous thing to do. You must be good at it since they have given you 16 to start!

[Kerplunk105]

I finally sucked it up and called the family I got Leena from I told them about what happen and they were very understanding. They are actually thinking about breeding Leena's mom in the next few months. I gave them my number just in case it works out

[rtropeano]

That was a very brave thing to do - I'm sure it was hard. It will all work out in the end and one day you'll have another pup to love.

[Cindy]

Been there ... and had to do that very same thing. Our first Britt/Springer cross was from a litter John 's sister's dog had. We took Jessie and they kept Domino, Jessie's brother. He was miserable living in suburbia and after 2 years we took him to live with us. We had him about 5 years and then someone ran over him with their truck. I was right there when it happened and felt so responsible. Anyway, we had to call John 's sister to tell her but we must have put it off for about 6 months. We were just devastated that he'd been killed and thought they would hold us responsible. But, sad as they were, they said Domino had such a great life for the 5 years we had him that they wouldn't have changed anything. I sometimes wonder if I could possibly be that understanding .... and I'm not sure I could.

Anyway - very brave of you!!

[adleblanc]

Last week during the snow storm their were two dogs running around our complex with no owner in sight. I grabbed PJ's leash and went outside...the dogs ran away from me. I went to get dog food and noticed the dogs ran closer to the street. I was so scared because I knew I couldn't handle it if I witnessed the dogs getting it by a car. Finally I was able to get the dogs. Long story short the dogs had opened the front door without the owner knowing because he had been at work. Accidents happen...this shouldn't stop someone from letting you own another pup.

Andrea

[Kerplunk105]

That's what a lot of people say, so hopefully if I find one in a shelter or rescue that won't be an issue.

A few months ago, in the pouring rain, I rescued a Husky that was running around in the street. The owners finally came looking for her..said she runs away all the time. Our Husky used to try and escape as well The thing that bothered me is that not one person tried to help me get her! I was out there for about 30 mins.

[Muddy Creek Britts]

In the mean time, I am getting a Service Dog pup to raise. She is coming on Saturday. Her name is Lily. She is around 8 months and a Golden Retriever.

After working with dogs of all breeds full-time, it amazes me that Goldens are so desired as service dogs. The absolutely worst behaving breeds I've dealt with are Labs and Goldens. I'd take a Pit before a Lab or Golden. My shoulder is still strained from a hard-pulling Golden at work.

I agree with telling the breeder. I'd like to know if anything ever happened to one of our pups. It would hurt, but I prefer living in reality and being respected enough to be told.

Are you sure you don't want to get a Brittany I should have a litter ready to go by July. Now I'm trying to talk Tracy into letting me get a female pup....I just don't have too much leverage right now. Maybe I can talk one of my old friends into seducing her, then I can tell her I'll forgive her if she lets me get a pup.

[Kerplunk105]

I've trained Goldens, Labradors, and Poodles for Service/Guide Dogs. Poodles would def be my #1 pick. They are so amazingly smart. I think a lot depends on the breeding as well.

As this point, I am def leaning towards a Brittany more then a GSP.