RamonaAnne
New member
Hello again everyone!
I was approaced this morning by my Pastor's Wife and she asked me to be on the look-out for a dog for them...
I had told them when the time came that they were ready to look for a dog, I would be willing to help them find a good fit...
She had a few ideas of what she wanted the dog to be like...(mellow, laid back, not really high energy, one that would be sort of content to just lounge around most of the day...) Hmmm...sounds like some Newfies I know...But then she said "but nothing too big..."
Besides, I know her well enough to know a Newf would be a bad match for her...The drool factor alone would totally turn her off...
(by the way, I think Newf drool could replace hair gel in a pinch!!...Might smell funny, though!!...)
Then after she said what she did, she said something about one of the kids suggested a Jack Russell...
I said "Uhmmm...No...." She looked at me and said "why not?..."
I told her that Jack Russells are fast enough to run through an underground fence and not get zapped (at least that's what I've heard...can anyone here confirm or debunk that myth?...) ....and I said that they were extremely high energy dogs and could sometimes tend to be really mouthy and nervous...(at least the ones I've know...) ...
I am not sure if she had dogs growing up....I know my pastor had a lab named Opie and he'll be a good dog person, I am sure...
She doesn't want anything as big as a lab...And she said "possibly hypo allergenic if possible?"...
....
Here's where I need some help from you all....
In order to make sure I can help them find the right dog, I have complied a list of questions to ask them...
Are you okay with a mixed breed or do you want something pure bred?
If you want a specific breed - what did you have in mind?
How big is the biggest you're willing to go for size?
How much (or little?) time do you have to devote to brushing/grooming the coat?
Do you want a puppy puppy?...One that is going to chew on everything (and I do mean EVERYTHING!!) and will need to be pottied immediately after eating, drinking, and every 1 to 2 hours on top of that?...Or do you want a bit of an older pup that is housebroken and can hold it's bladder overnight?
I can't really think of anything else to ask them right off the top of my head...
These are (I think!!) some good preliminary questions to ask them to help eliminate some dogs for sure...Can you all think of any other up-front questions I should ask them?...These are ones just to try and narrow down their choices for the right dog...Whether it be mixed breed or pure bred...
As things develop with the process, I will likely check back in now and then (Like if they want a pure bred...) and ask y'all for furhter advice (like what types of questions they should be prepared to answer from a breeder -- and what types of questions to ask a breeder -- if that's the route they go...or what types of questions they might be asked by a shelter -- and what types they should ask a shelter...But that's still a little ways off, I think...)
Any further questions to ask them for this first step of just figuring out what they want for size, age, breed, etc. would be greatly appreciated!...
I am honored that they came to me for help...
But then last month I made Pastor Jim promise me that he would talk to me before they got a dog...I said that certain breeds were known for certain traits as well as some health concerns and other things...I told him I wanted them to have the best dog to fit their lifestyle...
Oh...I suppose I should find that out...As far as I know, though, someone is almost always home, even during the day...
They have five kids...the oldest is a freshman in college...the youngest is in first grade...This dog will have no lack of human interaction in that house!!...
Anyhow...that is all for now...
Have a great week!
-Ramona Anne
I was approaced this morning by my Pastor's Wife and she asked me to be on the look-out for a dog for them...
I had told them when the time came that they were ready to look for a dog, I would be willing to help them find a good fit...
She had a few ideas of what she wanted the dog to be like...(mellow, laid back, not really high energy, one that would be sort of content to just lounge around most of the day...) Hmmm...sounds like some Newfies I know...But then she said "but nothing too big..."
Besides, I know her well enough to know a Newf would be a bad match for her...The drool factor alone would totally turn her off...
(by the way, I think Newf drool could replace hair gel in a pinch!!...Might smell funny, though!!...)
Then after she said what she did, she said something about one of the kids suggested a Jack Russell...
I said "Uhmmm...No...." She looked at me and said "why not?..."
I told her that Jack Russells are fast enough to run through an underground fence and not get zapped (at least that's what I've heard...can anyone here confirm or debunk that myth?...) ....and I said that they were extremely high energy dogs and could sometimes tend to be really mouthy and nervous...(at least the ones I've know...) ...
I am not sure if she had dogs growing up....I know my pastor had a lab named Opie and he'll be a good dog person, I am sure...
She doesn't want anything as big as a lab...And she said "possibly hypo allergenic if possible?"...
....
Here's where I need some help from you all....
In order to make sure I can help them find the right dog, I have complied a list of questions to ask them...
Are you okay with a mixed breed or do you want something pure bred?
If you want a specific breed - what did you have in mind?
How big is the biggest you're willing to go for size?
How much (or little?) time do you have to devote to brushing/grooming the coat?
Do you want a puppy puppy?...One that is going to chew on everything (and I do mean EVERYTHING!!) and will need to be pottied immediately after eating, drinking, and every 1 to 2 hours on top of that?...Or do you want a bit of an older pup that is housebroken and can hold it's bladder overnight?
I can't really think of anything else to ask them right off the top of my head...
These are (I think!!) some good preliminary questions to ask them to help eliminate some dogs for sure...Can you all think of any other up-front questions I should ask them?...These are ones just to try and narrow down their choices for the right dog...Whether it be mixed breed or pure bred...
As things develop with the process, I will likely check back in now and then (Like if they want a pure bred...) and ask y'all for furhter advice (like what types of questions they should be prepared to answer from a breeder -- and what types of questions to ask a breeder -- if that's the route they go...or what types of questions they might be asked by a shelter -- and what types they should ask a shelter...But that's still a little ways off, I think...)
Any further questions to ask them for this first step of just figuring out what they want for size, age, breed, etc. would be greatly appreciated!...
I am honored that they came to me for help...
But then last month I made Pastor Jim promise me that he would talk to me before they got a dog...I said that certain breeds were known for certain traits as well as some health concerns and other things...I told him I wanted them to have the best dog to fit their lifestyle...
Oh...I suppose I should find that out...As far as I know, though, someone is almost always home, even during the day...
They have five kids...the oldest is a freshman in college...the youngest is in first grade...This dog will have no lack of human interaction in that house!!...
Anyhow...that is all for now...
Have a great week!
-Ramona Anne