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PrintableRipHer2Shreds said: tackam said: Get a mix! They are healthier, and then you're not supporting irresponsible dog breeders. You can look for one who is in foster care through your local shelter system. That way, the family can tell you about their personality and good/bad habits. If you were going to INSIST on getting a purebred from a breeder -- don't!!! -- get references and have the dog seen by a vet immediately. I think Pugs, Boston Terriers, and Cavalier King Charls Spaniels are good, cooperative dogs to have with kids (and the Cavalier tends to be the healthiest of those). If you want something a little larger, boxers and labs can be nice too (and labs the healtheir of those). But they are ALL individuals, and any individual dog can be great or a pain in the ass. And whatever you get, get them neutered. Those are all good family dogs, as are beagles - notice the avatar  Yes, they are but they all have problems except for the beagle which is reasonably healthy... ear probs to some extent and skin but not if you take care of them properly... pugs have breathing/cardio probs and eye probs, Cavaliers also have eye probs, as do boxers (and breathing/cardio probs). Boxers can also have hip/elbow probs as can labs. Labs can also have an illness where the spine grows stiff cos the vertebraes grow together, have no idea what it's called in English though... all breeds have problems but GETTING A MIX IS NOT A GUARANTEE TO GET A HEALTHY DOG!! Forgot the skin on beagle edit [Edited 12/28/04 14:53pm] | |
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Teacher said: RipHer2Shreds said: Those are all good family dogs, as are beagles - notice the avatar Yes, they are but they all have problems except for the beagle which is reasonably healthy... ear probs to some extent but not if you take care of them properly... pugs have breathing/cardio probs and eye probs, Cavaliers also have eye probs, as do boxers (and breathing/cardio probs). Boxers can also have hip/elbow probs as can labs. Labs can also have an illness where the spine grows stiff cos the vertebraes grow together, have no idea what it's called in English though... all breeds have problems but GETTING A MIX IS NOT A GUARANTEE TO GET A HEALTHY DOG!! All true, except I wouldn't say that beagles tend to be any healthier than the rest that I mentioned. Bad skin and, yes, like all floppy-eared dogs, nasty ears. That may sound like a minor concern, but treating chronic ear infections can be VERY expensive and is miserable for the dog. Sure, the boxer will probably keel over from heart failure eventually, but from the dog's perspective, that's a hell of a lot better than having itchy ears its whole life. 
All purebreds are prone to specific health problems. There is no exception to that. With a mix, they are less likely to have those genetic problems, but they WILL have health problems eventually. Just harder to guess which ones.  | |
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Teacher said: RipHer2Shreds said: Those are all good family dogs, as are beagles - notice the avatar Yes, they are but they all have problems except for the beagle which is reasonably healthy... ear probs to some extent and skin but not if you take care of them properly... pugs have breathing/cardio probs and eye probs, Cavaliers also have eye probs, as do boxers (and breathing/cardio probs). Boxers can also have hip/elbow probs as can labs. Labs can also have an illness where the spine grows stiff cos the vertebraes grow together, have no idea what it's called in English though... all breeds have problems but GETTING A MIX IS NOT A GUARANTEE TO GET A HEALTHY DOG!! Forgot the skin on beagle edit [Edited 12/28/04 14:53pm] You listed every ailment possible! As far as beagle-specific problems, the ones you listed are common to any dog. Heart disease and epilepsy are common illnesses in beagles - both of which are illnesses my dog has.  But all breeds are prone to certain diseases. It's no reason not to get a specific breed. And true about mixed breed dogs - there's no guarantee that they'll be healthy or well-behaved. | |
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Aw sweets!
That is so horrid! It is hard to lose a pet. I have an ailing tomcat but cannot imagine what it is liket o lose your pet like that. Will your friend get another pet? Here in Holland so many pets are looking for a new home. Will probably be the same where your friend lives. |
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RipHer2Shreds said: Teacher said: Yes, they are but they all have problems except for the beagle which is reasonably healthy... ear probs to some extent and skin but not if you take care of them properly... pugs have breathing/cardio probs and eye probs, Cavaliers also have eye probs, as do boxers (and breathing/cardio probs). Boxers can also have hip/elbow probs as can labs. Labs can also have an illness where the spine grows stiff cos the vertebraes grow together, have no idea what it's called in English though... all breeds have problems but GETTING A MIX IS NOT A GUARANTEE TO GET A HEALTHY DOG!! Forgot the skin on beagle edit [Edited 12/28/04 14:53pm] You listed every ailment possible! As far as beagle-specific problems, the ones you listed are common to any dog. Heart disease and epilepsy are common illnesses in beagles - both of which are illnesses my dog has. But all breeds are prone to certain diseases. It's no reason not to get a specific breed. And true about mixed breed dogs - there's no guarantee that they'll be healthy or well-behaved.There's no guarantee that any dog will be healthy or well-behaved. 
I disagree about not getting certain breeds due to health issues. Different people have different tolerances for different issues. When people are looking at getting a purebred (dont'!), they should look at breed-specific issues and take them seriously. They are real. And beagles are definately more prone to ear problems than many dogs. Any dog with long, floppy ears will tend towards ear infections. They can often be prevented, but many people finding cleaning their dogs ears frequently to be really disgusting and unpleasant, and don't do it. [Edited 12/28/04 15:07pm] | |
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Mach  so sorry to hear about the little boy - there is absolutely nothing one can say to make the hurt that family has gone through go away. 
Melissa & Jen - i wholeheartedly agree that animal guardians (to use the PC term) need to be responsible, and even think that obedience training should come with each dog license, but i think comparing jack russells and pit bulls is a bit far-fetched. the damage a jack russell can do is nothing in comparison to the jaws of a pit bull. otherwise, your neighborhood crack dealer would find a jack russell much cheaper to feed. Jen - your attempt to hold my friends or their dog responsible for what happened is not appropriate. i'm going to assume that you were making a general point about small yappy dogs, and did not mean to say that they had it coming, as your post might suggest. RipHer - in my years of petsitting, i've found beagles to be awesome dogs! Gooey - thanks for your post. i think they will rescue another dog after they get over the initial shock. | |
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tackam said: RipHer2Shreds said: You listed every ailment possible! As far as beagle-specific problems, the ones you listed are common to any dog. Heart disease and epilepsy are common illnesses in beagles - both of which are illnesses my dog has. But all breeds are prone to certain diseases. It's no reason not to get a specific breed. And true about mixed breed dogs - there's no guarantee that they'll be healthy or well-behaved.There's no guarantee that any dog will be healthy or well-behaved.
I disagree about not getting certain breeds due to health issues. Different people have different tolerances for different issues. When people are looking at getting a purebred (dont'!), they should look at breed-specific issues and take them seriously. They are real. And beagles are definately more prone to ear problems than many dogs. Any dog with long, floppy ears will tend towards ear infections. They can often be prevented, but many people finding cleaning their dogs ears frequently to be really disgusting and unpleasant, and don't do it. [Edited 12/28/04 15:07pm] I never said they shouldn't be taken seriously. I got my dog from the pound, and sadly, I probably take better care of her health issues than I do my own. She's properly medicated for her illness. I've never had any ear problems with my dog, but that's likely because I clean her ears regularly. | |
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irresistibleb1tch said: this morning, while both of them were at work, their neighbor's pit bull mix broke through their fence, chased and caught my friends' little mixed breed dog Lucy and killed her.
And I'm sorry, I got horribly off topic. This is very sad, and I'm sorry to hear this. This is the problem when people do not properly raise their pets. Pets are companions, not machines with teeth. I hope the owner of that dog is held accountable in one way or another. Terrible! | |
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irresistibleb1tch said: Mach
so sorry to hear about the little boy - there is absolutely nothing one can say to make the hurt that family has gone through go away. was their wonderful, loved, raised well, and trained well, family pet ... just turned one day and kiilled the child for no seen reason animals are... animals humans try to put reason to them ... there isnt any reasoning in the animal kingdom | |
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Irresponsible owners and irresponsible breeders make my blood boil.
There is no need to breed pit bull terriers, and no need to want to own one. They are banned in the UK now. | |
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Reincarnate said: Irresponsible owners and irresponsible breeders make my blood boil.
There is no need to breed pit bull terriers, and no need to want to own one. They are banned in the UK now.  thank you - and again, Europe is years ahead of us in things like these. | |
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Mach said: irresistibleb1tch said: Mach
so sorry to hear about the little boy - there is absolutely nothing one can say to make the hurt that family has gone through go away. was their wonderful, loved, raised well, and trained well, family pet ... just turned one day and kiilled the child for no seen reason animals are... animals humans try to put reason to them ... there isnt any reasoning in the animal kingdom how sad all the way around! | |
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RipHer2Shreds said: irresistibleb1tch said: this morning, while both of them were at work, their neighbor's pit bull mix broke through their fence, chased and caught my friends' little mixed breed dog Lucy and killed her.
And I'm sorry, I got horribly off topic. This is very sad, and I'm sorry to hear this. This is the problem when people do not properly raise their pets. Pets are companions, not machines with teeth. I hope the owner of that dog is held accountable in one way or another. Terrible!Agreed. Sorry for participating in the threadjacking. It's a very sad thing, hon. I'm sorry for your friend's loss. | |
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tackam said: RipHer2Shreds said: And I'm sorry, I got horribly off topic. This is very sad, and I'm sorry to hear this. This is the problem when people do not properly raise their pets. Pets are companions, not machines with teeth. I hope the owner of that dog is held accountable in one way or another. Terrible!Agreed. Sorry for participating in the threadjacking. It's a very sad thing, hon. I'm sorry for your friend's loss. s'ok, guys. i'm waffling between being sad and mad and indignant (and mad all over again!) myself... thanks for being so understanding! | |
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I'm so sorry to hear about Little Lucy  ...it's so sad 
I have to be honest, tho, and say I'm sorry for the other dog, too - it's not the dogs choice to be brought up the way it was unfortunately owners should be held responsible always for the way thier pets act and there are so many people out there who don't deserve them
My family had a bit of flack years ago when we first got a rottweiler...Wally was huge and if you didn't know him quite scary. Those that knew him, tho, knew that he was the biggest sook under the sun and loved nothing better than playing with kids (and protecting them from harm which happened a few times) ...he was so beautiful and loving! most rottweilers are, actually, but unfortunately with a lot of those bigger breeds they seem to get a really bad name
My baby boy loved to cuddle and just be with you...he was adorable 
He passed in April and I still miss him
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Martina, I am a bit tired at the moment... although I had to share in your torn emotion.
My belief... don't trust any dog, in that they can turn... just like any species (animals or humans) with feelings/moods. I can't begin to express my beliefs/concerns about these breeds (in nature) with a expected knowingly demeanor, no matter how pleasant their home life or owner... it is bred in their blood, what is... is. ~Hugs... Martina, you truly live with conviction based on your beliefs... I commend you for that. 
~Admiration... 100%. | |
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tackam said: If you were going to INSIST on getting a purebred from a breeder -- don't!!! -- get references and have the dog seen by a vet immediately. I think Pugs, Boston Terriers, and Cavalier King Charls Spaniels are good, cooperative dogs to have with kids (and the Cavalier tends to be the healthiest of those). If you want something a little larger, boxers and labs can be nice too (and labs the healtheir of those). But they are ALL individuals, and any individual dog can be great or a pain in the ass.
And whatever you get, get them neutered. Boston Terriers.  My parents got one when I was in high school, and he was a great addition to the family. He's actually still alive today, although he's old, nearly blind, and doesn't do much other than lie around.
I don't think I'd get one for myself... I'd rather not be responsible for taking care of any other animal, human or non-human, and I have philosophical concerns about pet ownership/"guardianship"... but if I were to have a dog, it'd definitely be a Boston.  Please note: effective March 21, 2010, I've stepped down from my prince.org Moderator position. |
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OMG look at that face! so cute!!!! | |
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this is just horrible Poor Lucy. | |
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rachel3 said: Well in 2002 I shot and killed my neighbors mixed-breed pit bull because it attacked my 83 yr old Grandmother. We has complained on the owner and she was cited numerous times, fined never paid them. The dog was not licensed nor did it have its shots!!! I don't feel bad because i killed it, shot it 6 times. The peeps in Frankfort where they autopsy the dogs determined that he did have rabies and my Granmother has to undergo the shots at her age!!!
The total cost was $1,585.00 I have insurance and Medicaid on her. Plus she developed an infection in the 17 stiches and had to be sent to a plastic surgeon surgeon to have the wound cleaned, re-sutured, and given another round of anti-botics!! I had some clients not too long ago with a dog bite case. A man and his son were walking down the sidewalk when they encountered a neighbor walking a dog, who was known to be vicious. The father was the only one who got bitten, but the bite was at the same level as the son's face, and both father and son were pretty shaken up because the kid's face could have been mangled. I drafted up a lawsuit asking for money damages and, pursuant to a local ordinance, a court order that the dog be put to sleep. However, before I had a chance to file it, the dog and its owners moved out of the neighborhood. Since safety was the father's primary concern, he decided not to go forward with the case. Please note: effective March 21, 2010, I've stepped down from my prince.org Moderator position. |
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I'm so sorry to hear about your friend's poor little dog.There is no excuse for the owners of that pit bull. They should be prosecuted to the full extent of the law. But I really have to disagree that all the pit bulls and other fighting breeds should be banned. In our area the number one biters are golden retrievers. Our local SPCA has a program called Adopta-Bull where the dogs are trained and carefully placed with people who are trained to handle them. If they can't keep the dog for any reason they have to give it back to the shelter.Its not a perfect answer but why destroy whole breeds when the problem is in less than 10% of those animals? Those people that use them for fighting can train ANY dog to be a killer.
The problem is the people!  "Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind"-Dr Seuss
Pain is something to carry, like a radio...You should stand up for your right to feel your pain- Jim Morrison | |
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I do understand your point Martina. That said, my brother joined a Pit rescue. He took on a severely malnourished pit that was rescued. His name is General. My whole family adores him. He is now so docile and peaceable he can eat from your hand and is just plain delightful. My children played with him all day Christmas. He is 3 and still thinks he is a little puppy. My brother has taught him well that he is a power house and to ease up. It took a lot of work but I could not have been happier to see him come full circle. | |
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Martina - heavens no, I wasn't suggesting that your friends had it coming. Like you said it was a general comment about small dogs. Also, I am sorry too for jacking the thread, I got so caught up in the moment 
I think dogs and animals in general is one of the topics that I will include in my thinking of an "org resources" site
I believe that the pit mix is now in doggie heaven, with a better psyche and playing NICELY with your friends' little one like they should be able to.  | |
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thanks, all, for your comments. i might show my friends this thread at some point - i think everybody's kindness will mean a lot to them.
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Natisse said: OMG look at that face! so cute!!!![/quote]
Yeah, Matt DOESN'T want us to get a dog, so he goes around posting pictures of Boston puppies. Niiiiice.  | |
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shellyevon said: Those people that use them for fighting can train ANY dog to be a killer.
The problem is the people!   that's what I'm talkin about | |
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| no comment To Sir, with Love | |
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