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Nothing & Everything => Open Discussion => Topic started by: ober on May 14, 2021, 12:46:37 PM

Title: We got a puppy!
Post by: ober on May 14, 2021, 12:46:37 PM
We got a puppy!  She's 3 months old.  Half her paperwork says she's an Akita mix.  Half of it says she's a Husky mix.  I think she's neither and she's a shepherd mix.  LOL  Her name is Pixel  :D
Title: Re: We got a puppy!
Post by: hans on May 14, 2021, 03:20:30 PM
Cute.
Title: Re: We got a puppy!
Post by: Perspective on May 14, 2021, 03:41:01 PM
Cute, we picked up a covid puppy last May. Kids love her.
Title: Re: We got a puppy!
Post by: ober on May 16, 2021, 09:20:06 PM
So.... I may have jumped the gun on this announcement.  We were fostering with the intent to adopt but another family wanted her so..... puppy gone.  Ultimately I think we realized we're not really dog people or at least not ready for a dog.  My son didn't even want to play with her and basically stayed in his room while she was here.  My daughter, on the other hand, cried for like 12 hours straight after she was gone.  Ugh.
Title: Re: We got a puppy!
Post by: Mike on May 17, 2021, 08:32:58 AM
> Ultimately I think we realized we're not really dog people or at least not ready for a dog

In the before times I watched my brother's dog while they were on vacation.  Good dog but just so dog that it made me realize that I'm not really a dog person.  Pretty much killed any thought of getting a dog.
Title: Re: We got a puppy!
Post by: ober on May 17, 2021, 08:45:17 AM
My wife and I both had this vision that it would be good to have a dog for walks and to hopefully force us to just be more active but ultimately we just felt like it would force us to restrict ourselves (having to get back to the house to let the dog out or not able to just go do stuff whenever we want)... plus we go visit my parents a few times a year and I'm not going to board the dog and we can't take it with us.  The whole thing just felt like we were getting a toddler that wasn't going to grow up.
Title: Re: We got a puppy!
Post by: Mike on May 17, 2021, 09:02:11 AM
I hear ya.  Some visions/thought as you and yeah same realizations.  We just went went out of town for several days and while we had a friend stopping by to check on the cat it was really to check on the plants, the cat would have been fine (if a bit lonely).  A dog would have required much more extensive planning.

Title: Re: We got a puppy!
Post by: Jake on May 17, 2021, 09:13:30 AM
looks like you guys went through a whirlwind of emotions - but it seems like it turned out for the best :)

pixel is super cute though!

Title: Re: We got a puppy!
Post by: Perspective on May 17, 2021, 02:45:08 PM
>The whole thing just felt like we were getting a toddler that wasn't going to grow up.

Yep, that pretty much sums it up. Having a dog is a huge time investment and a massive inconvenience. You have to really be willing to make some lifestyle adjustments.
Title: Re: We got a puppy!
Post by: ober on May 17, 2021, 04:17:32 PM
Yup, and at the end of the day, I don't think we were ready and/or willing to do that.
Title: Re: We got a puppy!
Post by: Perspective on May 18, 2021, 08:58:40 AM
it's good that you had the opportunity to test that waters with fostering. There are soooo many new puppies in my neighbourhood. I'm a little worried about what's going to happen with some of them once people go back to work.
Title: Re: We got a puppy!
Post by: SoniaJackson on May 18, 2021, 10:36:03 AM
Hi) Oh my gosh he is so cute, he will grow up to be a good friend for you!!! Congratulations on having such a miracle in your home))))
Title: Re: We got a puppy!
Post by: ober on May 19, 2021, 01:35:58 PM
Hi Sonia - welcome to the forum!  What brought you here?
Title: Re: We got a puppy!
Post by: Betazep on September 11, 2021, 08:00:38 PM
So.... I may have jumped the gun on this announcement.  We were fostering with the intent to adopt but another family wanted her so..... puppy gone.  Ultimately I think we realized we're not really dog people or at least not ready for a dog.  My son didn't even want to play with her and basically stayed in his room while she was here.  My daughter, on the other hand, cried for like 12 hours straight after she was gone.  Ugh.

Oof.  I had dogs growing up, but we had cats too.  I guess I found myself to be more of a cat person.  The first 3 of my 4 kids were/are allergic to cats though, so we have been pretty much without a pet.  Now two of my "kids" are young adults... my daughter is 12... and my youngest son with no allergy is 8.  So we decided we are going to get one of these https://g.co/kgs/b9khB1 ... but we have been trying for over a year, and they are impossible to get it seems.
Title: Re: We got a puppy!
Post by: ober on September 13, 2021, 08:06:24 AM
Yeah, we pretty much abandoned the idea of pets for a bit.  We talked about fostering some kittens but no one ever really pushed for it and I'm not all about that so it's gonna be on someone else in the house to really want to do it.  I'm not a pet person.  Period.
Title: Re: We got a puppy!
Post by: Betazep on September 13, 2021, 10:23:08 AM
I gotta say... 18 years without a pet, but with 4 kids... has been kind of nice.  Once you have a pet, you always have to worry about the pet.  Like if you want to travel and whatnot.
Title: Re: We got a puppy!
Post by: ober on September 13, 2021, 12:05:41 PM
Yeah... that's my thing.  Having a pet is like getting a toddler that doesn't grow up.
Title: Re: We got a puppy!
Post by: Jake on September 13, 2021, 01:14:29 PM
I gotta say... 18 years without a pet, but with 4 kids... has been kind of nice.  Once you have a pet, you always have to worry about the pet.  Like if you want to travel and whatnot.

for us, these are minor inconveniences, and having a dog is great for our family. We're actually considering adopting a second one. I don't see myself living without a dog.
Title: Re: We got a puppy!
Post by: ober on September 13, 2021, 04:01:22 PM
Out of curiosity - what does the dog provide for you?  What makes it 'great for your family'?  I've struggled with that question. 
Title: Re: We got a puppy!
Post by: Jake on September 13, 2021, 04:27:47 PM
Out of curiosity - what does the dog provide for you?  What makes it 'great for your family'?  I've struggled with that question. 

hmmm, well, first and foremost, he makes us happy! even though we're used to it all, many every day things he does are just so damn adorable and make you smile. He also makes our kids (and my wife) feel more comfortable when they are home alone - he is a great guard dog. With a dog, you're never really alone.

He has helped us teach responsibility to our kids - doing things for and around the dog is their responsibility and has been for a few years now.

I really enjoy playing with Cap. He is getting a little older and a little slower and doesn't always want to play for a very long time - but I guess I am the same way :p
Title: Re: We got a puppy!
Post by: ober on September 13, 2021, 05:12:08 PM
Ok.  I guess I don't see it that way.  To each their own.
Title: Re: We got a puppy!
Post by: Jake on September 13, 2021, 05:14:58 PM
I mean, just look for yourself :D
Title: Re: We got a puppy!
Post by: ober on September 13, 2021, 05:17:21 PM
I guess I'm just different.  That doesn't make me feel anything.
Title: Re: We got a puppy!
Post by: Jake on September 13, 2021, 05:28:10 PM
I guess I'm just different.  That doesn't make me feel anything.

and that's OK too! better know it now, than after deciding on this 10-17 year long commitment.
Title: Re: We got a puppy!
Post by: Mike on September 14, 2021, 08:50:53 AM
I gotta say... 18 years without a pet, but with 4 kids... has been kind of nice.  Once you have a pet, you always have to worry about the pet.  Like if you want to travel and whatnot.
This is one reason I'm more of a cat person than a dog person.  While you still have to deal with them I know that if need/want to I can put down dry food and water and be reasonably ok with leaving the cat for 3 days.  Can't even leave a dog for a day.  That said, the last two trips we've taken we have had a friend come by daily.  So, yeah you aren't wrong.

Now, I grew up with pets so it is hard to imagine life without them.  For me, my cat provides a lot of love, entertainment, and stress relief.  Ever been really down in the dumps and had a fluff ball to pet and cry to?  It is surprisingly comforting.  As fucked up as this may sound, I cried more when my first cat died (after 18 or 19 years) than when my mom died.
Title: Re: We got a puppy!
Post by: Perspective on September 14, 2021, 10:41:20 AM
Completely agree that having a dog is a major inconvenience. It makes everything harder, especially travelling even if it's just an overnight trip. We actually just sold our SUV and bought a mini-van so we could fit the family, the dog, and all of our gear for camping / cottages.

That said, I'm with Jake on how happy it makes our family. Everyone loves our dog, she's just a big fluffy sweetheart. Seeing my kids gush over her (and they still do a year and half later) is really heart warming. She also helps calm them when they have melt downs or are just overwhelmed. I couldn't imagine life without her now.

Title: Re: We got a puppy!
Post by: Betazep on September 14, 2021, 11:37:23 AM
That is beautiful man...
Title: Re: We got a puppy!
Post by: Mike on September 14, 2021, 11:40:16 AM
That dog reminds me a lot of pictures of my mom's dog from my early life.  It she a labradoodle?
Title: Re: We got a puppy!
Post by: Perspective on September 14, 2021, 12:27:35 PM
Golden doodle.