Only Unemployed Dog Lovers Need Apply...

[buddy'smom]

IF YOU ARE THINKING OF GETTING A GOLDFISH YOU BETTER CHECK THEIR WEBSITE I HEAR THEY ARE EVAN STRICTOR ON ADOPTING A GOLDFISH AND LEAVING IT HOME ALONE.

kcarter: I truly hope this is meant as a joke only. (but I am not laughing)

I thought I was being extremly clear as to why breeders and rescues ask the questions that they do. It is NOT meant to be strict, it is to ensure that:
1. The new puppy is not going to be on a rescue site one day in need of a home. Many times people purchase a cute puppy without putting any thought into the commitment or time required. Not to mention the change to their lifestyle.

2. Rescues need to ensure that the dog is not going to endure what it has already endured, as I stated Separation Anxiety dogs cannot be left for long periods of time, and dogs neglected in a backyard will not be able to handle spending time alone outside, even if it is set up to be the Ultimate Doggy Spa! Some rescues on the other hand are able to stay home alone while you work. Rescues are NOT exchange libraries, where for a fee you can borrow a dog to see if it works. Rescues place in Forever Homes.

I repeat what I stated earlier: johnson99 is to be commended IMO as he has brought forth his frustrations, questions, and concerns PRIOR to ever ever getting a puppy. Now he has the tools and solutions to see if owning a boxer is right for he and his wife, not to mention a bit more educated in how breeders and rescues work. If only ALL people would be so forthcoming and research first. It truly would be a Perfect World.

Jean

 

[Sube Ru's mom]

Deb THANK YOU!!!

Thank you for your kind words. I will say i think rescued dogs realize they have gotten a second chance at life and that is what makes them unique and special.

Bailey has had it rough but she is in a home with PARENTS that love her and a little sister, Subi, that would get bored without her.

Unfortunantly Subi has some trials ahead of her. She just got diagnosed with Hip Displasia at 10 months :( But we are going to do everything we can to make sure that she has a good life, she is young and we caught the HD at a young age so the prognosis for her is good!! and she might not need surgery. depends on how the next few months go. Subi is my heart and soul, I would do anything for her or Bailey. (Bailey is daddy's dog and Subi is mine )

I just wanted to say thank you and I commend you for what you did with Mazzy, it is hard to take in a dog that has been in a couple of different homes, it takes a lot to gain their trust. But there is nothing more rewarding then seeing the unconditional love they give when they realize they are there to stay.

 

[Sube Ru's mom]

Buddy's Mom,

I couldnt agree with you more, you took the words right out of my mouth!!!

THANK YOU!!!

If I said anymore I would be afraid I would get kicked off Boxerworld

 

[Loke]

WOW!! It has taken me 2 days to read 8 pages!! What a conversation starter!

I have experience with both raising a puppy while we both work and while I was a stay at home mom.

Corgan, our sheltie, was bought from a breeder 5 years ago. She asked questions galore!! But I also worked close to home and came home for lunch everyday, even before the dog! He has grown up to be a well behaved little guy. I take my dogs seriously. He had to go through a good deal of tests etc to go to Hawaii when we got stationed there. (Yes, we are MILITARY and chose to not go the Shelter route). He spent 30 days in quarantine and cost us over $300 to stay in our family. I have been seeing alot of articles on dogs being left by military families when they move. That ticks me off because I know how often we move and the dogs have gone every step of the way. There are tons of strays (mostly cats) on military bases that were just left when the family moved. And I see it in the paper here every week with the featured pet of the week.


Loke, and our newest pup, Buttons, both have the luxury of being raised since puppy hood with a stay at home mommy. To be honest, it is harder to be home with them!! At least when I worked I could crate him for a couple hours at a time and not have a mess to clean up! But Loke, and now Buttons, were real patience button pushers!! But Loke has grown into a beautiful girl and I wouldn't trade it for the world.

Anyway, I truly think that if you want a dog bad enough you will find a way to make it work out for you. Just do your research and make sure that you are a forever home to whatever pet you decide to get.

 

[Tam319]

appicon YAY!!!! I just want to say THANK YOU to everyone (Sube Ru, Deb, KC, Jean) who posted excatly how I feel. I feel that my boy's are my family. I live 7 hours away from my skin family, and my dog's mean the world to me. I could never think of them as "just dogs".

Johnsonn99 - I don't recommend the gold fish route. I lost my Freddy on Saturday after 1 year of him swimming laps around his fish bowl. It was a very one-sided relationship (I think he only recognized my hand dropping food in the bowl). Plus, he did not kidney bean or do the woo woo song. And the worst part of all is that he died after one short year of fish-dom. And of course, being the big softie I am, I cried over this little wee fish.

If you really want a boxer I know everything will work out. I know that I had to move heaven and earth to rearrange my life in order to own a boxer. I even had to buy a house because I could not find a suitable place to rent (and by suitable I mean for the dog). I've had to rearrange classes, work and my social life around them. But you know what - when it comes right down to it at the end of the day, they are worth it 100%.

Good luck,

Tamara

 

[Jen72]

Only Unemployed Dog Lovers Need Apply

I find it disturbing that certain breeders will not give a boxer puppy to a good home because you work. We got our boxer puppy at a pet store in Bordentown, New Jersey. Is that anywhere near you? Maggie came from Oklahoma when she was eight weeks old. We got her four days after she got to the pet store. We had no problems getting her. We told them we both work and they suggested crate training her for her own safety while we are at work. She spent eight hours a day in the crate when we first got her. I do not think it is a bad thing for her to be in the crate all day. If she was still in the pet store, she would be in a cage all day, anyway.
I encourage you to keep trying and you will find a boxer puppy. Maggie has done very well with her crate training. It is her "safe haven" and she goes in there very willingly.
Good luck!:D

 

[Jen72]

Only Unemployed Dog Lovers Need Apply

To VTbxrFan:
I agree with you wholeheartedly. We live in an apartment and our boxer is just fine. She gets a lot of exercise. We take her outside several times a day so she can run around and boy, does she run!!
We got Maggie on September 8, 2001. My boyfriend is in the Air Force and got deployed shortly after the tragic events of September 11, 2001. I was very worried about him while he was away, yet having Maggie and focusing on training her kept me very occupied.
Like many other dog owners, Maggie is my first priority. I do not do anything after work until she is fed and walked. I have changed my work schedule so I do not have to work late while my boyfriend is away. She eats before I do and I cater to her every need. I do not have children, but I can only imagine the love I feel for Maggie is like the love I would feel for my own child.
I know some people disagree with crating a dog all day, but Maggie is fine with it and has never had an accident in her crate. She is well taken care of, fed, played with, loved, cuddled and adored. I cannot imagine our lives without her.
-Jennifer

 

[vasha]

Jen -

i personally (and this is JUST me) dont approve of purchasing puppies/kittens at pet stores because it fuels the demand for puppy mills to continuously churn out puppies. i think that johnson99 is doing the right thing by looking for a puppy through a reputable breeder or a rescue.

i dont know what kind of parents you are to Maggie and i'm in NO place to judge, but pet stores dont care where they send their puppies to, they just want to make the sale.

please please please make the decision to never buy anything else from pet stores that sell puppies

here's why:

http://www.hua.org/Prison.html
http://filebox.vt.edu/users/kgaeding/puppy/picsmills.html
http://twopooches.com/Breeders/know.htm
http://www.msnbc.com/news/399912.asp?cp1=1


thanx for listening
i tried not to get too emotional and do NOT intend to hurt your feelings in anyway.

VaSHa

 

[Sube Ru's mom]

Im am going to Curb my tongue

By buying a puppy from a pet store, and promoting buying puppies from a pet store you are PROMOTING BACK YARD BREEDERS. Pet stores do NOT get their dogs from reputable breeders NO MATTER WHAT THEY SAY!!!

I am sorry that you find it disturbing that breeders will not allow someone that works to get a dog, BUT THERE IS MORE TO THE STORY. I am NOT a breeder BUT i work with the boxer rescue and KNOW breeders. Breeders and RESCUES want to put the dog in the best home possible. Most breeders and rescues will NOT give their puppies up to someone with cash in hand or want a puppy QUICKLY for 1 MAJOR reason, they do not want these puppies to come back. That is the reason for the extensive application and process.

I find it very APPALLING that people are giving breeders and rescuerers grief for having the best interests of the DOG and NOT THE OWNER in mind.

It is not that you can not get a dog from a breeder or rescuer if you work, you just might have to work a little harder at proving yourself and your commitment to the dog.

If you want a GOOD QUALITY dog- something you will NOT get from a back yard breeder, you will give them the respect they deserve and do whatever to prove to them that YOU are worthy of receiving one of their dogs.

A few qoutes that i found that i thought hit the nail on the head

"Owning a dog is a privaleage NOT A RIGHT"
"You chose the dog, the dog doesnt chose you"

Before knocking a Breeder or Rescue, Keep one thing in mind
"They care about the dog not the potential owner, if you feel the same way as them you will respect them for the job they do EVERYDAY"

 

[Tam319]

Re: Only Unemployed Dog Lovers Need Apply

Originally posted by Jen72
I find it disturbing that certain breeders will not give a boxer puppy to a good home because you work. We got our boxer puppy at a pet store in Bordentown, New Jersey. Is that anywhere near you? Maggie came from Oklahoma when she was eight weeks old. We got her four days after she got to the pet store. We had no problems getting her.

What I find disturbing is that petstores will sell to anyone and everyone with a check book.

That is the point of this whole thread Jen. You had no problems getting her because she was from a pet store. Reputable breeders are very choosy about where the pups end up, unlike pet stores that are in the business for the $.

I'm not saying you are not a great owner or that your dog isn't wonderful. What I am trying to say is that it makes me shudder to think that ANYONE can buy a petstore puppy....pretty scary, isn't it.

Tamara