Help us choose a dog

[tradosaurus]

We have only had Australian shepherds. An awesome dog breed for their intelligence and behavior. They tend to want to live outside except during cold nights and they aren’t indoor dogs.

Australian Shepherds are considered among the highest maintenance breeds due to their extensive exercise and grooming needs, as well as their need for human companionship. Although Aussies are fun dogs with a lot of love to give, if you're looking for an easy-to-care-for dog, this breed is not for you!

Sounds like a good dog for a retiree.

 

[jyoutz]

Sounds like a good dog for a retiree.

It is a good dog for a retiree with land in the country. I don’t exercise my dogs; they run around outside and exercise themselves. That information is focused on city dwellers who keep their dogs indoors and have to walk them for exercise.

 

[5030]

Our Aussie sleeps with us in the bedroom every night. He gets up on the bed between us to get scratched and then gets down and sleeps on his 'cushy' in the corner and wakes us up religiously at 7AM when he has to go out and pee. Just like clockwork. Kind of amazing how a pup will alter your schedule to theirs.

In as much as we got him as an adult dog, I was worried that adjusting to us would be somewhat traumatic. Wasn't at all actually. The first month he never barked, I was wondering if he would ever bark, but once he accepted us and accepted the fact that he wasn't going back to the shelter (I would not ever want to live in a dog shelter), now he don't ever shut up. Never did his business in the house either. He's basically 100% pushbutton so long as we adhere to his schedule that is. At first he had some doggy nightmares but those are gone as well. He's 100% content now and yes, he snores too.

 

[5030]

It is a good dog for a retiree with land in the country. I don’t exercise my dogs; they run around outside and exercise themselves.

Same deal here though I'm pretty sure Wyatt would walk on a leash if required. He gets all the 'exercise' he needs running around the front fenced in yard which is about 1/2 acre. He maintains right around 65 pounds give or take. When he gets the mind to, he can really fly fast.

 

[Rockbadchild]

Our Aussie sleeps with us in the bedroom every night. He gets up on the bed between us to get scratched and then gets down and sleeps on his 'cushy' in the corner and wakes us up religiously at 7AM when he has to go out and pee. Just like clockwork. Kind of amazing how a pup will alter your schedule to theirs.

In as much as we got him as an adult dog, I was worried that adjusting to us would be somewhat traumatic. Wasn't at all actually. The first month he never barked, I was wondering if he would ever bark, but once he accepted us and accepted the fact that he wasn't going back to the shelter (I would not ever want to live in a dog shelter), now he don't ever shut up. Never did his business in the house either. He's basically 100% pushbutton so long as we adhere to his schedule that is. At first he had some doggy nightmares but those are gone as well. He's 100% content now and yes, he snores too.

My dog is a funny specimen, when I send her outside to pee, I have to tell her to do her business especially if you are in a rush. The first time I got someone else to watch her I forgot to tell them and she pee inside... They called me and they where like WTF I thought she was trained, I was like she is ??? they explained, then I was like ho right you have to tell her.... oups

 

[WinterDeere]

Home:

 

[Rockbadchild]

Home:

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let the fun begins lol

 

[2manyrocks]

First the fireplace. Then the sofa. Then the bed.

 

[WinterDeere]

First the fireplace. Then the sofa. Then the bed.

We're old hands at this, by now. And after three mini-pins, this quiet little girl is a huge step down in energy and neuroticism. Our prior dogs were never allowed upstairs to the bedrooms, and only allowed on furniture if they were joining us, as in sitting on our lap. They knew not to jump up on furniture on their own.

We give them a safe space of their own in the mud room / pantry, starting with a crate filled with towels and blankets, and then graduating to a nice dog bed with cover/pocket when they get older. A Kong stuffed with a little peanut butter each time we leave the house, and only ever received when we leave the house, ensures they're always happy to see us go and retreat to their safe space.

My wife will spend the first few evenings on the couch, with this one in a crate on the floor near her, in case it needs attention or the potty in the middle of the night. Once she gets more comfortable with us and the house, she'll be overnighting in her crate in the mudroom, until we get past the puppy phase. If she's like the last two, she'll spend days in my office, either snoozing in front of that stove or by my feet under the desk. We both work from home, so she'll get plenty of all-day attention.

 

[Fuddyduddy1952]

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I was just thinking that sweetheart will have a good life!
Maybe that's the name (in Spanish):
"Cariño"
(Sounds like ka-deen-yo)