Finding a good fit!!
By bellaofchaos
@bellaofchaos (11538)
United States
February 27, 2009 2:35pm CST
We all love animals! I love my puppers to death, but lately I have come to the conclusion that he needs a friend and that might help him with his energy level. I mean we do the play and walks but he needs a buddy and yes the five kids he has to run ragged he does. LOL!!So what I have is a high energy, friendly, loving pack member. So what do I get to match him. I decided I wanted another male dog for a couple of reasons here is one. my male is not nuetured and if I get a different breed than what I have I don't want to have any accidental puppies.. The reason my male is not nuetured is one I might show him and two I might tud him out back to where I got him from or to another reputable breeder. So I think having another male would make things easier in the long run.
But most importantly I don't just want a good fit for my other dog to have a play mate I want a good fit for the family. Now this is a high energy fun loving family. LOL! So I need a dog that is good with kids, Loyal(all dogs or animals are loyal as long as you treat them right), easy going (not high strung.. My husky is not high strung so I really don't want a high strung doggie.), good with cats as I have a few, and gentle.. Ok that can be just about any dog if you give them the right treatment and love...So let's go over my options. Well I have the option to adopt a puppy or dog from the humane society..(but then I'm worried about what the owners before did to the dog and not sure that all humane society check the tolerances of their dogs. I think it depends alot on their budget. But I'm stil open to it..), then there is getting one from the paper which is a hit or miss and sometimes you end up with a lot more than you bargain for (past experience when someone said the animal was healthy**shakes head***), and then there is going to a breeder which is good because I can get a puppy and train it and teach it to leave it(meaning the cats or kids depending on what the puppers is doing. But going that route can be expensive.. Hence the money I spent on Frost my Siberian Husky.. and I'll tell you I wouldn't trade a dime of it back he is an awesome family memnber, but do I want to spend that much again...? I'm not sure.
So help me out here with some pro's and con's to each of the options that I have avialable to me!!!
here is some information that might help you to help me better.
I have 5 kids my youngest is 5 yrs old and my older is 10..
I have a single house with a decent size yard.
I have a husky male who's energetic and loving and just a pure joy..
I have an other half who works nights.
I'm currently layed off and so I get to spend all day with the kid left behind(Frost my 1 yr old husky and the kitties)!!!!!!
So there you have it, if you have any questions please feel free to ask in your response.
1 person likes this
6 responses
@Lakota12 (42600)
• United States
27 Feb 09
you just might make sure if ya do get a male there wont be fights.
My Spitz and my daughters CHows.
WOuld get along pretty good but then all of a sudden they would tie up got where I had to keep my Spitz away from the chows.got where we couldnt even let them out at the same time as they got older. and the fights got costly for daughter always had to take her chow to the vet. Mine was the little bit smaller dog but fast!
2 people like this
@bellaofchaos (11538)
• United States
27 Feb 09
Yeah I definitely don't want dog fighting at all that is why I'm really debating what would be a good fit for the household along with many other factors!!
1 person likes this
@bellaofchaos (11538)
• United States
28 Feb 09
I know from having dogs in the past that husky's can do great with other dogs. My last husky was friend with a standard poodle, and a mixed breed. She was only territorial if the other dog tried to harm us. LOL!! But huskies are pack animals and he was breed and socialized with a lot of animals heck he lives with cats and thinks he's a cat. LOL!!! I emailed the breeder that I bought frost off of becuase she is retiring a couple of her dogs and I was thinking of getting on of her retired dogs.. LOL!! I love huskies.. I feel at peace best with that breed but I also love malamutes to because they have an awesome disposition. Huskies have such a character about them and there personality really pops. LOL!!1 I love my husky he's a great puppers. But I keep getting remindd that he is no longer a puppy any more. To me he will always be a pup becuase he still acts like it. LOL!! I should download some more pics of him. He's just a cutie....
@Darkwing (21583)
•
27 Feb 09
If you don't particularly want another Husky, then how about a Labrador or a German Shepherd, or for really high energy level, perhaps even a Border Collie. They love to run, I guess. Labradors are great family members, but then so are all dogs if you train them right. They also need a lot of exercise, so would be a good "energy companion" for Spunky.
However... these breeds can be expensive, unless you can find a cross, which might lessen the price a bit. I would tend to visit a local dog shelter though. I don't know about that side of the pond but here, they're quite open and honest with you about a dog's behaviour and his past owners, or the treatment he's received. You would possibly be saving a dog's life that way, and also save your pocket, if you can find the type of dog which will suit you. My son got his dog from a shelter. He's had him a year, and he's VERY high energy. I can't remember now what they called him but he looks like a black fox. lol. He's great with the kids, loves to play and is a good protector of the home when strangers come around. So, you can find the right dogs out there.
Brightest Blessings, my dear friend.
@Darkwing (21583)
•
28 Feb 09
Ooooooooops... first I owe you an apology my friend. I must have been tired when I responded to your original discussion, thinking it was Sparks, because I mentioned Spunky. lol. Sorry about that!
That's ok... I was thinking you wanted a dog that could run with your Husky yet slow down to the pace of family life, so I chose some that would be able to do just that. It was only my opinion, so don't feel that you've put on me. You're the one who has to care for the dog anyway, so naturally, you pick what you're more comfortable with. I hope you get the one at the shelter that you've been looking at, but if you don't, no big deal, there'll be another you fall in love with. I just hope those that you saw, especially the eight-year-old find good homes and owners.
Good luck in your search... my son ended up with a dog completely different to what they set out to get, but he just ate away at their hearts and turned out to be the best choice they could have made, so you'll get there, I'm sure.
1 person likes this
@bellaofchaos (11538)
• United States
27 Feb 09
I want more of an easy going doggie or puppers to kinda calm down my highenergy doggie a little bit. I have already been to the shelter and have an application in for a supposed 2 yr old malamute. He is a malamute but I think he's more along the lines of five year rather than the 2 they mark him at. More because his deamor and how he acts is that of a much older dog. We visited him and loved him and think that he would be a perfect fit but to be honest there were other people in front of us for him and I know my chances of getting him are slim.. YOu know how that is first come first serve. The other dogs we saw there weren't ones that would fit well Ryan did see one that he liked other than the malamute but the dog is 8 yrs old and I don't know how adaptable the dog will be to 5 kid another dog and cats. you know what I mean. I don't want to see the 8 yr old dog in the shelter he shouldn't have to be there .. He should be in a loving caring home and getting lots and lots of pets and being fussed over. I hate that people buy a dog cause it's cute and then they decide that they no longer want the dog becuase it grew up and wasn't what they expected. I have a husky he's the king of in and out and he talks to me constantly about everything .. Ask Sparks he does it especially while I'm on the phone. But the point is I knew what I was getting into when I decided to get him. I knew that he wouod yip and yap and love to be next to me every second of the day I know that they are the king and queens of in and out and I know that they love unconditional and that they do pic on person to bound but are a pack animal and will treat the family as such. I love that about him and now the next one we get is going to be geared a little lower in key due to my other half wanting a lower key dog, but really the dog doesn't have to fit his criteria since I'm paying for it and I'm taking care of it..LOL!! He works mids 3-11pm so I spend the most time with all the animals and the kids LOL!! But I will say that I just don't get people not doing their research before going out and buying another animal..(family memeber.) Ok I think I started a rant somewhere in there ... Sorry.
2 people like this
@bellaofchaos (11538)
• United States
28 Feb 09
Thanks hun, I Have been looking into a couple more since then I'm hoping to hear back on one that I like ... I emailed the breeder who I got frost from and she has a husky that she is retiring and the husky is very pretty and I'm awaiting the email to see what the damage to my wallet will be and I still haven't heard back from somerset about the Malamute grrrr. I wish that I do because I was told that we woud be called either way. LOL!!!
1 person likes this
@mummymo (23706)
•
28 Feb 09
LOL I have better idea and I think you are gonna love it! My Niamh (7) is asking constantly for a dog and always wants morekids around to play with so why not kill two birds with one stone and instead of you laying out lots of extra money on another dog and all the expense why don't I just send you Niamh? She has lots of energy is very friendly and will fit right in with the dog and cats as well as the kids - an added bonus is she is house trained already! Deal??? xxxx
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@bellaofchaos (11538)
• United States
28 Feb 09
ROTFLMAO!!!! Hmmmm what tricks does she know that will be the deal breaker..LOL!!!
@bellaofchaos (11538)
• United States
1 Mar 09
LOL!! Hmmm I do need a body guard but mostly from my own kids. LOL!!
@leenie50 (3992)
• United States
28 Feb 09
Hi bella,
As far as the expense goes, you can cut back some by getting a pure bred without papers. My Dexter(shi tzu) was amazingly inexpensive because I got him from my neighbor and he had no papers. I adore him. I have never had two males before. Usually had afemale and male. Are you looking for large, medium or small dog? A Labradoe puppy is pure joy. I've had at least a half dozen different Labs and they are wonderful dogs with kids and cats. I like the ide of a puppy you can train. Especially when another dog is involved. I used to have 2 Labs and 3 cats. What a wonderful family of pets that was. When I adopted my Son from birth, I had a female lab. She taught him how to walk. She was always close to him. When my son would crawl over to her, he would grab her skin and she would slowly stand up and walk him very slowly. It was so precious.
I also loved my Mini Dachshund. And now I have my Dexter. Keep us posted.
leenie
1 person likes this
@bellaofchaos (11538)
• United States
28 Feb 09
Leenie,
I love labs but I was just informed last night that I am not allowed to get a lab because my other half when he was 8 yrs old was attacked by his stepfathers Lab.. So unfortunately I'm not allowed anything that is bread to a lab.. grrrrr. I have always been of the mind it's all in how the dog was trained or raised not in the dog or the breed. Because I know so many breed that people say stay away from and they are just absolute joys when they are raised in a loving environment. grrrr. So now all labs are off my list due to that. I wanted a medium to large dog because that is what frost is and something that is a little more calm than him but could keep up with the level or energy that my kids have and the dog has if you know what I mean. Thanks for your suggestion of a lab though..
@bellaofchaos (11538)
• United States
1 Mar 09
Don't be sorry you did great.. I had no clue til I talked to him about that last night. :( But on the other hand I talked to the breeder that I bought my first dog off of and she has some adults that she is going to be retiring and I'm hoping to pick up Volcano.. So far so good I told her I was interested when the first dog that she was retiring wasn't a good fit and she told me about Volcano and I was pretty much sold American..:) I love Huskies.
@cortypants (604)
• United States
27 Feb 09
I am partial to Boxers because I have one, but they are definately gentle with kids, love to play, have high energy, and are a medium sized dog like your husky. You don't have to get a puppy, you can adopt an adult through Boxer rescue if you want to, and not have to worry about an adult not being playful enough, they are babies until they pass on. Good luck with whatever you decide!!
2 people like this
@bellaofchaos (11538)
• United States
27 Feb 09
Thanks. I'll have to look into that .. Now with a rescue do they check and see if the animal is good with kids, cats and other dogs before they allow them to be adopted out?
1 person likes this
@cortypants (604)
• United States
27 Feb 09
Yes! I can't swear up and down that every single rescue group will, but every one that I've experienced does a full check on you and your family and pets that you already have before they'll let you have a dog. It's almost worse than attempting to adopt a child! They don't want to take a chance that they'll place a dog in your home that doesn't end up being compatible and having to take the dog back out of a home again. They want to make sure that the dog is going into a permanent home, not bounced around and traumatized.
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@cortypants (604)
• United States
27 Feb 09
The only thing I would suggest if you're getting another male, is to get a neutered one so that you don't end up with dominance issues in your house
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@okkidokitokki (1736)
• United States
27 Feb 09
I have alwayd had good experiances with labradors and children. They have tons of energy and love their people. My sister got one when her oldest was one and a half, they love each other and Chops is so good with him (now 3) and his infant sister.
As far as training goes, since you are a stay at home parent you might discover that you can train your dog on your own. (we have an Australian Shepherd that we trained on our own. She spent her first 6 months with my husband and I nonstop because I was not working and she and I went with my husband. Now she is the best trained dog we have ever had) I do not suggest a shepherd bred unless your kids are tough because my girl herds the neighborhood kids when they play and she nips (gently) at their heels. She would never hurt them but I'm not sure a one year old would understand, and you can't get that instinct to go away.
As far as where to get one, I have no suggestions, I have never paid for a pet, we get ours from shelters and my boy that is on my picture was found on the side of the road. I would get a puppy though so you can train it from the begining on how you expect it to act.
@bellaofchaos (11538)
• United States
27 Feb 09
I think a lab and and Australian shepherd are good choices.
Maybe I didn't make it clear but the one yr ol in the house is my husky.. LOL!!! My kids are 5 and up and they all can take a beating the husky treats them like they are pack members. LOL I'll give you a pic off him below...
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@okkidokitokki (1736)
• United States
27 Feb 09
precious!! Good luck finding a friend for him.
your post was clear, I just missread :(
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