ok, I have been thinking about getting a dog since I purchased a house the beginning of the year - have a great big shady fenced back yard and my house has tile flooring thoughout a good part of it so it is perfect for housetraining a pup without ruining exensive carpeting.....

my delima - I found an adorable cairn terrier (yes have done my homework so know all about them) which is a toto dog from the wizard of oz.... anyway I have been thinking about a pet not just for the grandbabies being there but for me and I think this dog would be a perfect match.

Well, now I am getting cold feet and it is not over anything other than the expense right now to purchase the pup and the equipment and supplies - the dog is registered and has already had a lot of handling and training - can sit, down, walk on leash, has been crate trained .... etc and she is 11 weeks old - price is $500.00 (they sell all over the internet for $600 - 700.00) plus when you factor in the crate, carrier, bowls, food, grooming supplies, etc that will probably run another $200.00 - to me that is a lot of money and I am looking at where we are time wise and thinking wow, that money could be better used somewhere else, if gas goes to $4.00 a gallon this summer as I heard someone predict.....hmmm.

So should I just wait on getting a dog? I don't want a mutt as I have had those all my life as a kid growing up and since this pet is specifically for me I want to pick exactly what I want. Is it foolish to buy a dog right now with the times looking rather dire?

what to do what to do LOL I know it just my wanter on as I don't really NEED a dog.

help!

Talk me down someone!

Our dogs are pure joy! My biased advice is~~~the puppy is already here in this time frame we are
in ~~~~ a good loving home with happy children and loving 'mom' would be a blessing to him. And
the puppy to you all.

An eleven week old puppy trained like this one, my goodness, the hard part is done! lol! I'd bring
the puppy home.

YHVH bless you
MarysLove

Did you already meet the dog and fall in love with him ?

My little dog is a full bred shih-tzu and she was completely free. Already several months old with no papers. She is such a great companion and I just love her to pieces, so I couldn't even put a price tag on her.

I don't really support the breeding and selling of dogs for money when there are so many great dogs out there needing a good home and some are at the shelter on death row. I've never paid for a dog or cat other than what the shelter charges which includes their shots and spay/neuter.

I would check out Craigslist and the shelter. Yes, you will find full breeds and puppies.

That is my opinion on it, HOWEVER if you have already met this little dog and really felt attached to it, then that is a different situation.

well I have to say I love your advise LOL I DO want the dog.... I am just trying to be reasonable and prudent.... can you tell I have the proverbial voices sitting on two shoulders giving me conflicting advise?

yes I went and looked at her last night. She is a sweetie and I got to see her do all her little tricks for treats.
I was good though and told the lady I had to sleep on it as I told myself before I went I was not going to buy her tonight on impulse.

Your advise is good and valid. I have checked craigslist and the local shelters. The dogs in my area I have found I would maybe be interested in on these sites (purebreds) are grown or half grown and have some issues with kids or it is just not known how well they will do being around children - and that is a big issue with me since my grandchildren are with me so much. I put a lot of thought into adopting or buying. Obviously adopting would be cheaper but I would not get the dog I wanted. Most of the pups in the shelter where I live are crosses and since this pup will be with me for a long long time I don't want to choose a dog just because they are available at the time. This lady is a serious shower and sells the pups that she feels will not be show quality but great pets. There is a spay agreement I have to sign.

Whith the grandkids (Jack still so small) I decided a pup would be best to raise up around kids than getting an adult dog or teenage dog that I did not know the history of. How well they would tolerate being around children that squeel and run and just in general would be stressful to a dog that was not used to that made my decision to purchase a puppy the one I am most comfortable with.


God Bless,

Debra

Go get it

well I bit the bullet and just sent the lady an email commiting to buy her.

Maybe have the grandkids meet the pup and see how they get along . Then make your decision . Enjoy your new pup .

Thanks for the advise. I forgot to mention she did give me the option to bring her back if she doesn't work out so that makes me feel better about it too. I don't have any doubt the kids will fall in love with her and she has been handled by children too as part of her socializing program so I really don't have any doubts they won't instantly bond with each other, it was just me commiting to the upfront expense of obtaining her.

As long as you can afford the dog... it's all good. The dog needs a loving home, and loving care,

and your needs are the same. Sounds like a good match to me.

I agree with Mary. I'd go for it. It is pure pleasure to have my doggies in my life. They all sort of found me since I inherited them from my mom but I love them each as if I'd choosen them. I love all types of dogs but prefer one I can pick up if an emergency happened etc.

Donna

I agree with you Faith. My heart goes out to these wonderful shelter dogs in need of a home. If I could afford it I believe I'd rescue every dog. LOL

Donna

Hi Debra...sounds like you have indeed put a great deal of thought into this and yes in your situation you need a dog that WILL get along with kids.

Donna

by the way I think the Cairn Terriers are adorable. I hope you will show a picture of her to us. Maybe even submit a picture of her to my PawPawPets.com website.

Donna

Thank you all for your input. This is obviously a big decision for me and I appreciate all your thoughts on this. I know what you mean Donna about being able to pick the dog up in case of an emergency, handling a big dog was a factor too in choosing the breed I went with.

Cairns are excellent little watch dogs, though not a guard dog. I did not want the liability that comes with a big dog if it got loose and God forbid bit a child. A little dog could inflict a bite but I doubt it would have the ability to get a child down and cause grave damage before someone got to it.

((shudder)))

It takes a physically strong person to handle some larger breeds and to dominate them as leader ...... though I have seen some little pint sizers rule the roosts in homes. hehehe!

God Bless,

Debra

yes I will post some pics when I get her this weekend

I'm looking forward to photos.

YHVH bless
MarysLove

- - - - - - - - - - - -

Did You First Request a Pre-Purchase Examination of The Dog, By Your Own Vet, Before You Actually Pay For The Dog?

There Are Few Things That Are More Sad Than Falling In Love With a Pet, and Have It End Up Dying Shortly After You Bring Them Home Because They Had Some Kind of a Preexisting Disease That The Pet Seller Did Not Warn You About or Did Not Know About!

My Family and I Know, Because It Has Happened To Us a Few Times Before!



I Pray That IT ALL WORKS OUT For You Debra!



YHVH BLESS Fellow-Watchman IN CHRIST!

I will ask for this when I go get her. I am sure she will agree. Thanks for the advise!

Do you have a name picked out?
-angel

Me too !!!

Congrats on your new baby I just love my animals. There is no better unconditional love from another creature, than your pet waiting for YOUR arrival home. Post pics, please! God bless.

Does anyone have any thoughts or know the demeanor of a Papillion? I think I want one because it reminds me.. looks wise.. of a CAT, of which I already have a few

Thank you. I have been busy with her this weekend. She fit right into the family like she has always been here. I was so hoping she would and not give me to many problems with crying since I was having such anxiety over buying her LOL She is not timid at all and from day one walked in like she owned the place. Slept all night both nights! what a blessing that is!

She will probably be black and silver like the original totto dog, she is a black brindle and one unussual thing about cairns is their color changes as they mature so it is hard to predict what they will wind up looking like as far as color goes.

LOL Reminds me of that horse of a different color in the movie! the word Cairns means rocks or rock piles that the scottish people used as landmarks and these little dogs would hunt prey that lived in these rock mounds. Just a little trivia on my dog.

We named her Raven. you can see the brindle in her more in the outdoor picture but she usually looks more black.

Awwww! What a precious baby! Congrats on your newest family member, Debra!

She's adorable

How precious! What a cutie.


Thank you. I have been busy with her this weekend. She fit right into the family like she has always been here. I was so hoping she would and not give me to many problems with crying since I was having such anxiety over buying her LOL She is not timid at all and from day one walked in like she owned the place. Slept all night both nights! what a blessing that is!

Perfect!
Congratulations!


YHVH bless
MarysLove

Thank you! I tell you I was so jittery about taking on a dog I was just having this recurring thought how she would be a cryer or somehow just be one big regret and I would have invested not only my time and emotions but money into her. So far I must say she has been a doll. Even the lady I bought her from was shocked she has done so well at night away from her litter mates even though she had been working with her as far as separating her at night, she would still cry some so it is wonderful she has assumed and taken on the role of sole family pet with such relish.

I picked her breed because I did not want a typical house dog that would be too fragile (small boned) for the kids to rough house around with. I think she is the pefect mix of size for the house, intellegence and energy.

I also love the scruffy look she has, not a fufu dog that is for sure but cute in her shaggy sweet way.
They don't shed like ordinary dogs do so that is just a plus I learned after I decided on this breed, since my grandkids tend to suffer from allergies.

The vet said she was a very healthy pup, not like a lot of the pups he sees that are sold at the big flea market (Canton Trade Days) down here. I am glad I took the time to scout out someone who loved their dogs and treated the babies like their own instead of just a business to make money.

She Is Beautiful and Cute All At The Same Time Debra, Congratulations, YHVH HAS TRULY BLESSED You!

THANK YOU HOLY HEAVENLY FATHER, IN The TRUE CHRIST'S HOLY NAME, AMEN!


YHVH BLESS IN CHRIST!

AWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW Raven is a CUTIE. So glad she feels right at home. I think sometimes pets can sense a good person and a bad person or the Holy Spirit in one.

Donna

I'm pretty sure they can


You're lucky Debra. I got a puppy once that when I drove off with it, it was crying and the momma was howling. I felt awful. Didn't end there either. It cried if it couldn't see me. Couldn't even take a shower. It also liked electrical cords....it chewed the cord to my hairdryer, lamp, vanity mirror, etc. Luckily it never got the TV. He was soooo bad. I took him to obedience school and it didn't work very well. It was an American Eskimo. Turned out to be a good dog after about 4 years. Oh....and it bit 2 people. Very territorial.

The no shed thing is a big plus ! When you have tile or wood floors, you end up with tumbleweeds of fur under and around everything. Sweep them up and its back in 2 days ! My Tzu doesn't shed, but my beagle/chow does.

She is too cute! I love her color.

Oh, and I meant to add, I love going to Canton Trade Days, but I avoid pet alley out there at all cost! I ended up with a dead kitten from there. I felt so horribly sorry for two tiny, tiny kittens that one of the dog breeders had thrown into a sweltering cage last summer, that I bought them. I took them to a vet immediately, but the little girl did not survive. That pet stuff that is allowed out there, it is a shame and I wish more would be done to oversee those people. I get sad when I go there so I avoid the pet area.

yeah it is a shame isn't it? I would not dare buy an animal from anyone that trades animals down there.

She is beautiful! And she and I have something in common---my hair seems to be changing color as I mature too! From dark brown brindle to silver Congrats!
-angel