Not wanting a dog

missbiggles1

seven-day-weekend wrote: »

Our greyhound that I mentioned in an earlier thread was only two years old and was going to be put down because she had stopped winning races That's why I took her, despite not really being in a position to have a dog at the time. I thought a less than ideal life with us was better than no life at all. Luckily, as I also said, a friend of ours took her and she went to live in leafy East Sussex for the rest of her days. A lucky girl indeed.

At least in the UK there are organisations that do try to rehome them and I've heard that they're wonderful pets.

As you've lived in Spain I'm sure you've heard of the plight of the Spanish greyhounds, galgos, who are used to hunt hares and are killed very inhumanely when they're no longer useful after having led most miserable lives. There are international organisations trying to help (they're one of the charities I support) but it's a terrible problem.:(

http://www.galgorescue.org/spanish-galgo/

Person_one

Feral_Moon wrote: »

I think the clue is in the name! i.e. Husky "runner"

His dogs run in trials teams and competitions. They're doing what huskies are bred to do. And nothing wrong whatsoever in keeping them crated at night or during short periods home alone. Do you know how destructive a pack of huskies can be when left to their own devices :rotfl:

Nobody said that there was anything wrong with that. These dogs apparently spend most of their lives in cages though.

seven-day-weekend

missbiggles1 wrote: »

At least in the UK there are organisations that do try to rehome them and I've heard that they're wonderful pets.

As you've lived in Spain I'm sure you've heard of the plight of the Spanish greyhounds, galgos, who are used to hunt hares and are killed very inhumanely when they're no longer useful after having led most miserable lives. There are international organisations trying to help (they're one of the charities I support) but it's a terrible problem.:(

http://www.galgorescue.org/spanish-galgo/

I do know about the galgos (several of the people I know from Spain volunteer for a galgos charity.). There were so many dumped dogs where we lived, it upset my husband terribly, the rescues are all full, you have to learn to shut your eyes, it is heart-rending.

Greyhounds are very good pets, exercise is easy, just take them somewhere where they can run very fast for two minutes, then they sleep the rest of the day:) . They are also quiet, like many hounds they don't often bark (although they howl sometimes!). Ours only ever barked once while we had her, and it was at someone we didn't want in the house, so that was fine!

calicocat

Greyhounds are amazing dogs.

For years not a breed I was in any way interested in. Became involved with their rescue on a more travel based scenario (transporting rescues up and down the country). At the time I was more than happy to help them (I won't go into the rescue stories, most are very horrid from racing and breeding, hence moving them)..but would never have particularly had one as a pet.

However, another friend has a rescue one. She is an amazing dog and would keep her tomorrow. Since knowing her, I now take notice of all greyhounds. They are so gentle and clever. Clever on a bit of a cat level rather than your average dog. And Very easy to look after. ......just don't leave them access to the kitchen if you go out. they are very able cleptomaniacs.

Peter333

Huskyrunner wrote: »

my dogs are worked, not a trendy fashion accessory they have a 50 foot by 20 foot out door dog run that they are mainly in. The are only crated last thing on a night or if we leave the house for any given period of time look on ebay at xxxl dog crates its not like they are thrown in a 2x2 crate.

I do seem too think looking at this thread it was started by a troll

Person_one wrote: »

So they are only ever inside if they are in the crates?

Sorry, but that doesn't sound like they're part of the family at all. Don't you want to bring them in and spend proper time with them?

I agree with Person One. Also, I find it funny how the 'crates' the huskies are kept in are suddenly a 50 foot X 20 foot run!

Upshot is, these dogs should not be kept at a domestic property. These kind of dogs should be kept at a farm or at least a large property with multiple acres of land.

Feral_Moon wrote: »

I think the clue is in the name! i.e. Husky "runner"

His dogs run in trials teams and competitions. They're doing what huskies are bred to do. And nothing wrong whatsoever in keeping them crated at night or during short periods home alone. Do you know how destructive a pack of huskies can be when left to their own devices :rotfl:

Exactly! so why have these flippin' dogs in a domestic property? Makes no sense! Nothing you or anyone else says - will convince me that keeping huge dogs like this in CRATES in a house, is OK.

avogadro wrote: »

I suppose it would depend on the situation. I was bitten by a dog when I was a child (granny's aforementioned westie!) but I am glad he wasn't put to sleep. He could be a bit 'snappy' but he was mostly ok.

missbiggles1 wrote: »

But when he wasn't "mostly ok" he could have taken your eye out or scarred you for life. Your parents and/or grandparents must have been prepared to put you at risk but it'd be unlikely that you were the only child it would have come into contact with, I'm afraid.

Rev wrote: »

My mum got me a dog for my first birthday.

When I was 8-9 I harassed the crap out of him my mum would tell me again and again and I didn't listen. One day he nipped my arm. He didn't break the skin but it did bruise. She didn't put him to sleep or do anything besides tell me it was my own fault. I learnt to respect dogs.

I never harassed him after that. And he never showed a single sign of aggression before or after that.

He lived until I was 19 and he was my best mate.

These days people would be calling for the dog to be put to sleep if that happened. I'm extremely glad my mum never got the dog out to sleep. Because it was my own stupid fault that the dog snapped at me.

Hmmm, I am in two minds about this. On the one hand, an obviously dangerous dog who has savaged someone (especially a child) NEEDS to be put down, but it doesn't sit well with me to put a dog down who just snaps or nips. It's not ideal, and it's not good, and the dog probably needs good behaviour classes, but sometimes, (as the above illustrates,) the dog does attack for a reason.

tesuhoha wrote: »

I had a dog forced on me once. My husband and I used to argue about getting a dog for the children. He wanted one and I didn't. He said it was unfair that I had had a dog as a child but it was my dad's dog. I have never been a fan of dogs having been bitten by one as a child.

I think it was on my daughter's 13th birthday that he brought home a Jack Russell puppy. I was completely and utterlly devastated by this and what made it worse was that because it was her birthday present I had to pretend I was pleased about the whole thing. However, I felt that a dirty trick had been played on me and I never stopped resenting the dog.

My husband had promised to train the dog, I wanted nothing to do with it but he was very busy at work so the dog didn't get trained. I attempted to housetrain it but I had no idea how to and the dog did its toilet on the floor all day and every day (usually the living room carpet) for the whole time we had it and it was always me who had to clean it up. I looked after it in that I fed it and took it for its injections but that is as far as it went. The children used to take it for a walk now and again but by no means regularly. It was a very destructive animall and tore apart furniture, clothes, books, toys, anything it could get its teeth into, even our Christmas tree was destroyed.

Eventually, I got a full time job and my husband realised that the dog would be on its own all day, so to my relief he decided to have it re-homed. I think he also took into consideration that no one could train it, and I did not want it. The day it went to the dogs rescue was terrible, the children were really upset and I felt really bad because the dogs eyes were so sad and frightened. I still feel bad thinking about it to this day. The children must have hated me for it. However, the dog was a year old, completely untrained and very unhappy with me.

We discovered later that the dog had found a new home in the country with a single lady whose Jack Russell had just died so our giving up the dog was probably the best thing we could do for it to be able to have a happy life. The dog is probably dead by now but I still feel guilt about it. I feel bad because I ruined the dog's life and gave it no affection.

We now have two cats who are loved and adored by all. I still don't want a dog and my husband would like one. Its not to do with the sofa or carpet because my tabby cat scratches those and I don't mind.

This is a very sad story, but I am glad it had a happy ending. You don't need to feel bad Tesco. None of it was your fault.

This (and several other posts on here,) also reinforces what I said earlier that even though the kids and the man in the family will whine and moan for a dog, it will almost always be the woman in the family who will be looking after it/cleaning up after it/walking it. I have seen it happen too many times.

Person_one wrote: »

What a shame that the dog and the children were so badly let down by the adults.

I don't agree. The dog was let down by the OP's husband. She didn't want it in the first place.

catkins

BarryBlue wrote: »

I think having a dog, or even a cat, is a huge commitment and you are going to have to live with the decision for 10 years or more. We would never have a dog because we travel the world and, like you, we would not be willing to give that up for any animal.

You also have to be willing to accept other things too. Dogs can indeed damage your house or its contents. And they do smell, all of them. people who say 'mine doesn't smell' are deluding themselves or have just got used to it. You can always smell a dog in a house. If you can accept all that, plus clearing up their muck, then fine, they can be good company. The cons far outweigh the pros for me though, and I have no idea why anyone would want a cat! (Puts on tin hat!;))

It really annoys me when people insist that all houses with dogs smell. It is just not true.

My mother in law criticizes everything and doesn't care whether she upsets me or not. In fact she loves to upset me. If my house smelt of dog she would tell me, I know that for sure. She told another family member that their house smelled. My dog has long quite silky fur. It is different to most other dogs' coats. One of my cousins is allergic to my dog's fur and yet has never had any reaction to any other dogs.

I have a very good sense of smell and can quite often smell dogs when I go into someone else's house but often go into a house with a dog or even several dogs and there is no smell at all.

Peter333

catkins wrote: »

It really annoys me when people insist that all houses with dogs smell. It is just not true.

My mother in law criticizes everything and doesn't care whether she upsets me or not. In fact she loves to upset me. If my house smelt of dog she would tell me, I know that for sure. She told another family member that their house smelled. My dog has long quite silky fur. It is different to most other dogs' coats. One of my cousins is allergic to my dog's fur and yet has never had any reaction to any other dogs.

I have a very good sense of smell and can quite often smell dogs when I go into someone else's house but often go into a house with a dog or even several dogs and there is no smell at all.

Hmmmm, I agree in a WAY.

I have been in a number of houses with dogs that do smell doggy, and the owners swear it doesn't!

But I have several friends with 1-3 dogs whose house has no doggy smell at all. (Well, maybe the teeniest bit! But they smell no worse than the humans haha. )

But I agree with Barry when he says that some do smell and the owners are in denial about it.

Doesn't mean they all stink though.

TBagpuss

green_cloth wrote: »

Thank you for taking the time to reply.

We are going to have a chat this evening and I'm going to try my best to bond with the dog, I know its not the dogs fault, it's just how I feel.

Enjoy the rest of your weekend :-)

I hope the chat went well.

i agree with the posteres suggesting that you need to agree with your OH some house rules for the dog, so that you can get along - I know several friends with dogs who have rules about which rooms the odgs are allowed in, in many cases the dogs are not allowed upstairs or on furniture.

Regular grooming and ensuring that the dog is bathed regularly will also help.

I also think that if your OH is willing to step up and take responsibility for the dog, taking it to trianing classes, walking it, celaring up etc then this may make it easier for you, and cause you to resent it less.

I don't know how old your children are but there is absolutely no reason why they should not get into the habit of helping with the additional cleaning in the house that comes with having a dog, as well as learning to pick up the dog's mess when taking it out, and learning and keepingto the rules about furniture etc. Double benefit - you don't have the burdn of all the work invovled in dog owning, and they learn to be responsible dog owners and that dogs create work which is not fun, as well as fun stuff!

Good luck.

Feral_Moon

Person_one wrote: »

Nobody said that there was anything wrong with that. These dogs apparently spend most of their lives in cages though.

No they don't! What on earth gives you that idea? They're out running every day! Have you got the slightest idea about the amount of training involved for these sort of trials? Do you honestly think they're locked up 24/7 then expected to run for miles & miles having done no training? :rotfl:

They're only in cages overnight or occasionally when left home alone, as the OP stated. He also stated they have access to a huge run in the garden when not working.

Person_one

calicocat wrote: »

Greyhounds are amazing dogs.

For years not a breed I was in any way interested in. Became involved with their rescue on a more travel based scenario (transporting rescues up and down the country). At the time I was more than happy to help them (I won't go into the rescue stories, most are very horrid from racing and breeding, hence moving them)..but would never have particularly had one as a pet.

However, another friend has a rescue one. She is an amazing dog and would keep her tomorrow. Since knowing her, I now take notice of all greyhounds. They are so gentle and clever. Clever on a bit of a cat level rather than your average dog. And Very easy to look after. ......just don't leave them access to the kitchen if you go out. they are very able cleptomaniacs.

If it wasn't for the annoying allergy, I'd definitely have a greyhound or two.

Actually, if it wasn't for the allergy I'd be highly likely to end up as one of those mad women that have 60 dogs in the house, so its probably not a bad thing!