getting a dog

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I mentioned arthritis in my long and waffley post.

I had no problems with my dog's obedience when he got older. In fact, once he actually started to listen he listened to me moreso than everyone else. I think that, because I related to him more than a person, we just had a kind of bond. I knew not to ask too much of him, he never asked too much of me (well, there was a lot of responsibility but it wasn't as though he forced it on me) and we got on possibly best in the household. Instead of being a proper authority figure I was his trusted figure, so he'd show me respect and listen to me, and I'd compromise by allowing certain things (if I was eating and he was too close to my plate I'd tell him to get out, and he'd move away, and as long as he wasn't breathing on my food that was good enough so he was allowed to stay where he was, for example). I could clean his ears long before anyone else could without him misbehaving. I would ask him to "'Scuse," in a nice tone and he'd move for me, whereas my mum saying, "Move," in an unpleasant tone was ignored.

He would still nick socks from the washing machine but by then it was just a habit that we all quite liked. He stopped trying to be sneaky, as well. I will point out that my boy was a people dog and seemed to think he was human - he didn't mix with his brothers and sisters when we went to pick him out, and he also didn't like it if other dogs were included in our walks. But he loved people (once he got over his shunning us for the first three weeks we had him). I agree that you have to be pack leader and my boy did know his place, but he was also a real part of the family. I think dogs do need individual treatment, based on their character. It's a matter of learning to read them. He had hundreds of expressions and I knew them all, even though I have problems understanding people when they think they're being extremely clear! You have to bear in mind that dogs are capable of many emotions including embarrassment and jealousy - they need a lot of emotional input and affection.

My boy is one of my favouite subjects, so I could talk about him all day. It's actually mentioned in my assessment. Haha.

I suppose the most basic advice I would give (because I do feel that it's possibly unfair of me to focus so much on the potential negatives of owning a dog, in my previous posts) is to look at all the negatives first, work out whether you can cope with that, then look at the positives. Because, as you yourself have said, it's a big commitment so it's important to know what you're getting into, good and bad. With some dogs that might be a lot of bad (but I also stand by what I said about you getting out what you put in - the more you put in, the more you get out, and it can be amazing - my boy was the best thing that ever happened to me and I literally feel blessed to have had him in my life).

We have an australian shepherd (much like a border collie, but nowhere as high strung). We got it from a breeder who was very concerned about keeping their dog's temperments and looks in check. Absolutely the best dog we have ever had. It was somewhat energetic the first two years, but since then it's basically asleep most of the time UNLESS WE WANT TO PLAY. Then it plays with us (NEVER hurting us, ever -- it somehow knows just the exact right amount to bite without hurting anyone) until we decide to quit, and it stops playing. This dog was extremely easy to potty train (two weeks, tops), nudges the door knob to indicate that it wants out. If it's home alone and is sick, it throws up on a rug right next to the door, saving me from having to clean up the mess!

We've had dogs from the pound (what a fiasco! -- that dog never did get potty-trained) and dogs from other situations, but never had a dog that was this easy and family friendly. I credit this dog partially with helping to socialize my 11 year old son -- the dog and my son play hide and seek and chase around the kitchen island before my son goes off to school. This dog is the easiest, sweetest, smartest, most fun pet I've ever had -- I highly recommend the breed.

Kris

Blah. All dogs are NTs. Get a cat. They're all aspies.

Jokes aside, I had a couple of dogs. I don't see that ever happening again. I'm not a great companion to an animal that requires much more attention than a cat, and dogs are very social animals, they desire a lot of interaction and need it to be emotionally healthy and well-behaved.

I know that a lot of people like cats because they think of them as aspies and I can see why, but I also see cats as users... like many NT people I've been in contact with (btw, I'm not really into NT bashing on the whole, I don't see it as THEM and US or anything remotely close to that, and I know plenty of nice NTs). Dogs are loyal and straightforward. I've known dogs who seem very aspie.

I like cats and I like dogs. Basically, to my mind, they're both capable of showing just as many negative traits and positive traits as each other. But dogs are more in your face. Above all it does just come down to your own bond with your pet, I guess. If I had a cat I might appreciate how independent they are. I had a dog, and I loved him for exactly what he was (even moreso perhaps because of his eccentric nature - it was quite fulfilling to get to know him and to start to understand him).

Also, a lot of my views on dogs could be explained by my boy being a big interest of mine. According to my parents, I will only keep up a conversation if it's about certain things, the main two being my boy and my rats. And now the cats in the garden, but before they turned up I spent all of my time in my room.

yesssssssssssssssssssss, no incovenient I would say to you, cause the dog has been always, still is, and will be forever my bessssssssssssst 'pal'

I adore dogs. There's something so calming about them sometimes. . .

There will always be certain inconveniences attendant on caring for another living creature.

Does anyone out there know much about the AS service dog idea?
I've always loved this though. . .

I'm considering getting one if I move to a house.

Getting a dog is a very big commitment and one that has to be upheld for the life of the dog. I was very apprehensive about that commitment myself before I got mine.
Keep in mind all of the expenses. Food, dietary supplements and meds as needed, vet visits, and so on. It aint cheap!
They need to have attention and to spend time with you. I take mine for a walk at least once a day and typically twice. Once a week we go for a ride. There’s an English style pub that allows well behaved dogs and we go there sometimes. I even take her on vacation with me.
Don’t have time for that? Either make time anyway or don’t get a dog. They are forgiving so if your schedule is temporarily too full it’ll wait a little while. Just don’t forget to get around to them ASAP! You don’t need to spend all day with them because they sleep a lot anyway.
Dogs can be destructive if left at home alone. I’ve known people to come home from work or wherever to find an expensive chair or sofa shredded! Mine chews throw rugs sometimes so I don’t buy any expensive ones. I let her have run of most of the house. She does very well with the exception of the occasional rug chewing. Don’t leave a dog unattended in an un-fenced yard either. They tend to like to go explore.

You must have patience, too.

As for breeds it all depends on your wants and what all you can accommodate. Little dogs are not necessarily easier like some believe. They can be very noisy and annoying. Aggressive, too. Nothing like that shrill and endless yapping to come home to at the end of a long day at work when all you want is QUIET. At the other end of the spectrum the big dogs can have their issues as well. Like the possibility of hip dysphasia. They can be too strong for some people to handle.

It pays to research and to consider what you can deal with.
No matter where you get yours from it pays to be able to spend even a little bit of time with it alone before you sign the dotted line to accept it. Find out at least a little about their personality. Once you decide to take it there’s no going back.

I got mine from the county animal shelter three years ago. If you just have to have a specific breed you might not find them very often at the shelters. They tend to have a lot of mongrels and pit bulls. Mongrels and pit bulls need homes, too, though. I was looking for a lab or Weimaraner but when they get those in they don’t last long before someone takes them. I ended up with a pit bull. I really wanted to give a home to a shelter dog. One of the castoffs of society. To me that was more important than breed. Mine has issues but nothing that I can’t live with. She has a very gentle and QUIET temperament and is stunningly beautiful to look at. You wouldn’t believe the compliments I get on her looks and her sweet personality.

All dogs have personalities that are different from the next dog. They have moods, too. They are like people in that sense. Mine likes to be alone by herself for a while then she’ll come and sit with me and rest her head on my lap or nuzzle me until I pet her and talk to her.

Some home owners insurance companies won’t insure certain breeds. I have State Farm and they don’t have any such restrictions. If you want a breed that might be considered a liability make sure to check with you insurance agent. If you don’t check you might have to change insurance carriers or get an additional policy for the dog. Even if you do have State Farm verify with them anyway.

Good luck and choose wisely.

You can actually find a lot of specific types of dogs at shelters-it just takes a lot longer to get to them than other places one might go for a dog, and you might have to travel. There are some shelters dedicated to black labs, some golden retrievers, some pit bulls, some mastiffs, greyhounds, collies, shelties, etc. Problem also depends on your area and how far you can travel for a dog.

I was thinking of the county shelter where I got mine but you're right. There's a few breed specific rescue places in this county, too. One for golden retrievers and one for boxers that I know of. I think one for Dobermans, too.

Yeah, I see what you were thinking too-there are a lot of shelters that just kind of take whatever comes through the door, lol. Not a bad thing, just not a specific thing.

My puppy Devi, a Chihuahua mutt. She is probably the best pet I've ever had. Nearly smarter then me. Only thing I need to do is break her of chewing paper.

Jijin that puppy is gorgeous!

Thanks for all the posts they have been really helpful. Getting a dog is an idea at the moment, I feel very calm around them, but I'm a long way from actually gettting one. I'm not that keen on cats I don't like the hairs everywhere, the smell, but mainly the claws! I do like the fact they are more self-sufficient though. I would like a labrador or a king charles, but the problem is I live at home at the moment and my mum is not keen so the reality of getting one is slim. If I moved back to London it would be very difficult to take a dog in tow, landlords, working hours etc would prevent it.

I've had plenty of friends with labradors. They're great dogs but they eat the house and everything in it (I'm exaggerating but not much). One friend has three of them, and came home to find that they had eaten the plasterboard wall of her hallway, so now she has a fairly open-plan house. Oh, and the carpets up the stairs too. Another friend had their kitchen doorframes chewed and the dining table and chair legs chewed almost all the way through, overnight. Other "casualties of dog" include CDs, slippers, shoes, shoe rack, toys, games, books, magazines...

If you have a labrador, be sure to get them plenty of things that are theirs that they really can chew on, and teach them not to touch the other stuff.

We have dogs. They're great fun and good listeners, though walking them in the pouring rain or in the dark isn't always that great, but you have to be able to put the time into walking them every day, no matter what, no matter if you're ill yourself. Or find other people who can help with that task.

I agree with the other posters here - they're expensive. But I think they're worth it