Comments on: How Many Dogs Old are You?

By: Elaine

Elaine — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 18:11:36 +0000

I think I just counted to twelve as an adult myself. An Irish Setter, two Dobermans, a small GSD cross (we think), two Collies, a Rottie cross, two Golden Retrievers, one Dalmatian, one Sheltie, and a miniature schnauzer. We’ve raised four dogs from puppies (two Dobies, one Collie, and the schnauzer.) The others were either young adults or mature adults being re-homed. Of these breeds, I don’t think I would get another Dalmatian, and the Irish Setter would be a hard sell too.

I would tend to avoid the herding breeds because they present management issues around horses, but like their temperaments.
Elaine´s last blog ..November Sunrise

By: Mommas Soapbox

Mommas Soapbox — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 07:26:51 +0000

I’m not sure how many dog years old am, but we have had dogs ever since we got married 21 years ago. Growing up I only had one dog and it’s wasn’t a great experience I’d have to say.

For the last 16 years we have had labs….. in fact our “nestlie” (chocolate lab) is getting on in years and not doing so well. Her tail still goes 100 miles an hour when she sees us though…..
Mommas Soapbox´s last blog ..RACHAEL RAY BAKEWARE GIVEAWAY CONTEST!!

By: Holly

Holly — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 21:00:57 +0000

here I am nearly a week behind. I am 11 dogs old of my own personal dogs, but probably should add in the numerous fosters and gazillions of students. Between all of them I think I’ve dealt with every group in the purebreds and oodles of mixes. I even traveled from PA to Virginia to pick up a foster for a rescue group once. Rodney was a Staffordshire Bull Terrier and a lovebug. Physically a very tough dog, but a marshmallow inside.

My personal dogs are all herding breeds. GSD, Pem Corgi and Australian Cattle Dog. All slightly different, all somewhat similar. The ACD is just scary smart, but she’s a tightly wired individual. The Corgis are a tiny bit independent and the GSD….so loyal it caused her some anxiety in the beginning.

By: Elizabeth

Elizabeth — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 04:31:17 +0000

Looking forward to your book!! It should be a lovely one!!
Elizabeth

By: Karen

Karen — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 14:06:15 +0000

My brother has a Blue Heeler (they’re more frequently called Australian Cattle Dogs in the north.) She’s a great dog. Yes, definitely high energy — so needs either kids, a job, or other dogs to keep her in good spirits. They are frightfully smart — but I’ve never met a herding dog who wasn’t. That’s why I love the herding breeds so much. You can just talk to them and they get it. I have whole conversations with Kiera.

I also agree on the small dogs and terriers — harder to house train, and terriers definitely need consistency and persistence in training to get it.

Book is in the final edit now. Coming down the home stretch. :)

By: Elizabeth

Elizabeth — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 04:51:34 +0000

Counting the dogs I grew up with, or belonged to grandparents and thus I spent time with them as well, there were 13. Most were mutts. Other breeds: Dachshund, rat terrier, corgi, beagle, Chihuahua, Blue Heeler (often called Australian Cattle Dog). Our current dog, now 15 1/2 yrs old is 1/8th Border Collie and 7/8ths Blue Heeler. She is far and above the best pet we have ever had. She came to us at 5 1/2 weeks old so to her we are her family and I am not sure she even knows she is a dog. She has always loved us without reservation, been VERY obedient and trys so hard to please. She needed lots of attention as a pup and young dog, but we had children at home who gave her plenty. She loved to do tricks and could jump VERY high and catch things like frisbees, etc. She could run like the wind. She would ALWAYS come when called…and NEVER would leave the yard, even if someone left the gate to the back yard open for days!! I have seen another dog coming to begin a fight with her and my husband command her to “go into the house” and she would obey…instantly!! We did very little to train her. We had other dogs when we got her and they taught her to use the pet door to the backyard, so she only had maybe 5 accidents in the house from the day we got her, until just this last year or so. (She is almost blind and deaf…so gets confused some). She has entertained us and made us laugh like crazy…during some very dark days, I do not know what we would have done without her!!

We had a dachshund that must have been retarded…and we gave him away, happily, after a year. Untrainable. Was good to the kids, but forget house training. The Chihuahua was ours after my mil died. I would not have chosen her. Never was fully housetrained…we just kept her in a little kennel at night and left a pet door open all day…which she used about 75% of the time. She lived to 14…we had her for half those years. Anything we have had with terrier in it was stubborn and not very easy to train either.

The only drawback to a Blue Heeler is they are high energy and if you do not have children for them to play with, they do best in the country with a job to do. I have never seen any other breed that wants to please like they do however. My dad has had many and bred many down through the years. He had many people tell him that it was the smartest and best dog they ever had and worth every single cent. We have always “free fed” her and she does not overeat. With each Blue Heeler we had there was one incident when they had to learn who was the boss…and never another problem. They seem to understand the order of things, even within the family. If they know what you want them to do; they will do it, even if you are not around. The one we have currently…you can leave a whole plate of your food on the seat of a chair, even go into another room…she will not touch it. She asks…and waits for you to give her what you want her to have. Talking to her is all that was necessary to teach her this. (How many dogs do this??) I could write a book about her and this breed!!

How is your book coming along these days??
Elizabeth

By: Karen

Karen — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 20:21:37 +0000

Altadenahiker, I absolutely agree. Yes, there are many important considerations and questions that need to be asked to get an understanding of where someone is with their dog raising and responsibility. This is just a starting point.

Deb, a dog-like cat is the perfect pet for when you want or need a little more freedom of movement.

By: Deb

Deb — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 19:58:35 +0000

I think this is a really good place to start. I am 6 dogs old and all were mutts, mostly of the cocker-poo-schnauzer-terrier persuasion.

My current dog is a cat. Except for hissing at the vacuum she is otherwise dog-like.
Deb´s last blog ..Fall: change and anticipating the holidays

By: altadenahiker

altadenahiker — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 00:54:56 +0000

Well, yes. But however many dogs, I’d like to know how long each lived. In other words, how well did the person care for the 1 or 200 dogs in his or her charge.

By: Karen

Karen — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 20:56:52 +0000

Some of my favorite dogs have been mutts. And I couldn’t agree more — there’s nothing like a four-footed to take us two-footeds out of our heads and put us squarely back into our hearts! : )