Another vote for going to your local SPCA Shelter. You can get a great pet and save a dogs life. 
When I was young, we had two cockers.. One was about the meanest, biggest cocker spaniel you'd run in to -- kinda an oxymoron, a mean cocker spaniel. Very protective, and kinda cranky when he didn't get his way. He, his name was Pogo, was a great dog though. The female, her name was Tasha, was the sweetest dog you'd ever find. They were the best of friends.
They didn't have any health problems to speak of, until they were old. Pogo lived to be 15, Tasha 16. My parents bought the male first, then decided that he needed a friend so they got the female a few months later. I think my dad found out about Pogo when he saw a sign on the side of the road.. "Puppies for sale" or something like that. Then they found Tasha through a breeder.
They didn't have any health problems to speak of, until they were old. Pogo lived to be 15, Tasha 16. My parents bought the male first, then decided that he needed a friend so they got the female a few months later. I think my dad found out about Pogo when he saw a sign on the side of the road.. "Puppies for sale" or something like that. Then they found Tasha through a breeder.
I have grown up all my life with labradors. I love them they are suuuuucchhh nice dogs. My 2 80 labs think that they are lap dogs and will sit in my lab as i watch tv and they will lay on top of me on the couch. They are great dogs, but if you are gonna have kids i would recomend not getting a small dog that are skidish. Labs are very good with children, i should know because i am 14 and grew up with 2 labs, but they died and then about 2 years later last summer we got two lab puppies. Make sure that you have ALOT of time to spend with them though because they get very attached and if you dont spend time with them they can develope bad habits like nuciance barking and chewing on EVERYTHING.
IceBlue,
My family has been breeding and showing Miniature Pinschers for over 30 years. We currently have some of the top dogs in the country. I can probably offer some good advice for selecting a pet without problems and I would be happy to help.
<< I don't want to pick one out of a pet store or a newspaper ad and have to put it to sleep in 2 years due to improper breeding, hereditary health issues, etc. >>
I agree 100%. Pet stores are the worst and newspaper ads are almost as bad.
My advice would be to contact the Cocker Spaniel club. Someone within that group will be able to recommend a good breeder in your area. A good breeder must be involved in dog shows, etc. Avoid people who simply breed for money. Good breeders breed for show quality and healthy animals, but only about ten percent of their dogs will be "show quality" -- the rest are usually placed in homes as pets.
My family has been breeding and showing Miniature Pinschers for over 30 years. We currently have some of the top dogs in the country. I can probably offer some good advice for selecting a pet without problems and I would be happy to help.
<< I don't want to pick one out of a pet store or a newspaper ad and have to put it to sleep in 2 years due to improper breeding, hereditary health issues, etc. >>
I agree 100%. Pet stores are the worst and newspaper ads are almost as bad.
My advice would be to contact the Cocker Spaniel club. Someone within that group will be able to recommend a good breeder in your area. A good breeder must be involved in dog shows, etc. Avoid people who simply breed for money. Good breeders breed for show quality and healthy animals, but only about ten percent of their dogs will be "show quality" -- the rest are usually placed in homes as pets.
kami
Lifer
- Oct 9, 1999
- 17,627
- 5
- 81
I know you have your heart set on a cocker but I'd really recommend a mutt. They're healthier and have better temperments, not to mention more intelligent for the most part. Back at home (damn i miss him *snif*) we have a Cockapoo (cocker spaniel - poodle cross) and he's a great dog. Total vet costs $0 as well, other than regular checkups. Had him for 6 years and we adopted him. There was a litter of 6 of them...his siblings all had dark tan color to them and were about half the size of the one we picked...his coat is also more of a cream color. He was totally house trained within a few weeks, learned the basic commands within a month, and has a great temperment. Playful when you want him to be, and cuddly when he knows you need a little lovin
Don't know how the hell I'm gonna handle the day when he passes.
p.s. cockapoo's also don't shed any hair! vacuuming daily because of a dog can be a pain in the arse.
Don't know how the hell I'm gonna handle the day when he passes.
p.s. cockapoo's also don't shed any hair! vacuuming daily because of a dog can be a pain in the arse.
"They're healthier and have better temperments, not to mention more intelligent for the most part"
I don't understand how such generalizations can be made. I worked in the Humane Society and never noticed a general difference as a population.
--
re: dogs, everyone recommends the breed they own, and i am no exception of course. I have a few Border Collies and i really like them. they are real smart (they can open doors, turn on faucets, turn on the water outside, get the paper, bring the hose, and stuff like that all without training; they just observe you and figure it out) but require to be kept busy. of course sometimes they get in to trouble, mainly b/c they are smart and high energy (they find something to do if you don't give them something). they are also really physically athletic and keep you physically active as a result (at least they do for me) mine love to catch frisbees
I don't understand how such generalizations can be made. I worked in the Humane Society and never noticed a general difference as a population.
--
re: dogs, everyone recommends the breed they own, and i am no exception of course.
I have a few Border Collies and i really like them. they are real smart (they can open doors, turn on faucets, turn on the water outside, get the paper, bring the hose, and stuff like that all without training; they just observe you and figure it out) but require to be kept busy. of course sometimes they get in to trouble, mainly b/c they are smart and high energy (they find something to do if you don't give them something). they are also really physically athletic and keep you physically active as a result (at least they do for me) mine love to catch frisbees<< "They're healthier and have better temperments, not to mention more intelligent for the most part"
I don't understand how such generalizations can be made. I worked in the Humane Society and never noticed a general difference as a population.
>>
The generalization is made because pure breds are prone to inbreeding as the gene pool gets smaller. As we know, inbreeding may cause some mutation. Interbreeding opens up the possible gene pool.
This isn't saying all pure breds are inbreded, but this is why the generalization is made and it's something to think about.
kami
Lifer
- Oct 9, 1999
- 17,627
- 5
- 81
Raspewtin, I don't know why this is true but we did a lot of reading before getting a dog and we have heard this a lot. I also know some people who have mutts living until they're nearly 20 years old, while friends with purebreds have their dogs passing away in their early teens or even having to be put down earlier due to health problems.
If anyone has some insight on why this might be true, I'm all ears. From what I've seen, it is definitely true for the most part.
If anyone has some insight on why this might be true, I'm all ears. From what I've seen, it is definitely true for the most part.
the local dog pound, we've had 7 dogs over the past 10 years, 4 were from the pound, all turned out good.
Add the 60th vote for a shelter.
Saving a dog's life a Valentines day would be the sweetest thing you can do. Make for a better story, and you'll feel really responsible for the lil pup... you will be its life. I had a white Retriver/Springer Spaniel mix from when I was aged 6-21 (i'm 24 now) and she was undoubtedly my most loyal friend.
Mutts are great. Theyre unique. Jeez... I REAALLY want a dog now.
r.i.p. Cotton <sniff>
Saving a dog's life a Valentines day would be the sweetest thing you can do. Make for a better story, and you'll feel really responsible for the lil pup... you will be its life. I had a white Retriver/Springer Spaniel mix from when I was aged 6-21 (i'm 24 now) and she was undoubtedly my most loyal friend.
Mutts are great. Theyre unique. Jeez... I REAALLY want a dog now.
r.i.p. Cotton <sniff>
I went to a shelter a little while ago with my dad looking for a puppy. They were basically unwilling to talk to us since the dog would spend the majority of the day outside. God forbid a dog should be able to be outside where they belong!!
Anyway, you can use newspapers to find a dog, although you would want to be cautious. Look for somethig with a pedigree. That ought to give you some sort of gauruntee that the dog will be relatively free of problems.
BTW, my doggie is a 12 year old English lab (like a yellow lab but with a fatter head). He's pretty thick headed, but he's a cutie and we love him
m00se
Anyway, you can use newspapers to find a dog, although you would want to be cautious. Look for somethig with a pedigree. That ought to give you some sort of gauruntee that the dog will be relatively free of problems.
BTW, my doggie is a 12 year old English lab (like a yellow lab but with a fatter head). He's pretty thick headed, but he's a cutie and we love him
m00se
great looking dog Cpt, very cute pup. Do you have any recent pics, does she look more boxer-like now?
From what I understand, each breed seems to have 1 or more health problems that many dogs in the breed fall victim to, seemingly b/c of inbreeding in their past. I think it's bad hips with German shepherds, beagles too have bad hips. What some posters are getting at, I think is that mixes are healthier b/c they have a greater genetic differentiation, and have no worries about that. As far as better temperment that's up to the individual dog. I've known some great purebreds, and some bastard mutts, YMMV.
From what I understand, each breed seems to have 1 or more health problems that many dogs in the breed fall victim to, seemingly b/c of inbreeding in their past. I think it's bad hips with German shepherds, beagles too have bad hips. What some posters are getting at, I think is that mixes are healthier b/c they have a greater genetic differentiation, and have no worries about that. As far as better temperment that's up to the individual dog. I've known some great purebreds, and some bastard mutts, YMMV.
".s far as better temperment that's up to the individual dog. I've known some great purebreds, and some bastard mutts, YMMV. "
true true. you know some breeds have a breed specification that necessitates physical problems. for example a show quality german shepard will always have hip problems b/c the slop required of their back necessitates problems with their hips (unless there is some truely amazing breeding). it's true about tight breeding problems, but also you can be in for a ton of problems with a mutt also since you do not know the medical histories of the parents. I don't want to sound like i am against adopting from a shelter of course. some breeds have more medical problems than others. there is risk no matter which way you cut it, mixed or pure
"From what I understand, each breed seems to have 1 or more health problems that many dogs in the breed fall victim to"
this is not true. many breeds have some health problems but in much smaller percentages than the average dog. of course many have serious medical problems associated with their breed (a result of modern day breeding towards a visual standard and not a functional standard like in the past). and not every breed has health problems. to think one will have less problems with a mix is not correct. if mixed breeds had detailed pedigrees with medical histories, you would doubtlessly find a similar amount of medical problems as the avg purebreed.
really though dogs in general are good things. they say petting a dog can lower your blood pressure, and those people with pets live longer lives with less disease than those without pets. good luck with whatever you choose
true true. you know some breeds have a breed specification that necessitates physical problems. for example a show quality german shepard will always have hip problems b/c the slop required of their back necessitates problems with their hips (unless there is some truely amazing breeding). it's true about tight breeding problems, but also you can be in for a ton of problems with a mutt also since you do not know the medical histories of the parents. I don't want to sound like i am against adopting from a shelter of course. some breeds have more medical problems than others. there is risk no matter which way you cut it, mixed or pure
"From what I understand, each breed seems to have 1 or more health problems that many dogs in the breed fall victim to"
this is not true. many breeds have some health problems but in much smaller percentages than the average dog. of course many have serious medical problems associated with their breed (a result of modern day breeding towards a visual standard and not a functional standard like in the past). and not every breed has health problems. to think one will have less problems with a mix is not correct. if mixed breeds had detailed pedigrees with medical histories, you would doubtlessly find a similar amount of medical problems as the avg purebreed.
really though dogs in general are good things. they say petting a dog can lower your blood pressure, and those people with pets live longer lives with less disease than those without pets. good luck with whatever you choose
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