Warning: novel-length post!!
I am thinking of getting a dog. My husband is pretty aggreeable, mostly because he is not home much of the time that I am. See, I have been dog-sitting our landlord's dog (pitbull mix) for the past week, and it makes me want to cry knowing that she's going to go back home Sunday! I have been taking her for walks.. been greeted when I pull down the drive (she's in a dog run. But still, happy jumping, tail wagging, etc.) None of my other animals do this; make me feel joyful to be home, like they want me there. Sure, my cat greets me at the door and nuzzles my ankles till I feed him. And the horses stand expectantly at the gate waiting on their evening hay. But do they do backflips and run and chase a stick and be very interactive? No
It turns out that, after thinking about it for awhile, Mark's cousin wants to find a new home for his pitbull male. He is a gorgeous dog; huge head, nice colors (I believe he is blue-ish colored; maybe black, it escapes me now.) I also think that he has papers for him; I know that he is not neutered and is at least 2-3 years old. He is trained awesomely; actually crate-trained, but I would rather leave him in the back mud-room or in the dog run; still a contained area and I would never let him run off leash, except maybe in the fenced paddock.)
Not to mention, he is a big ball of goo He is really friendly and used-to people, kids, other dogs. Now not cats.. we have a cat and I doubt that he's ever seen one..
Which brings me to this. I know that many people disdain people that own dogs and don't let them live side-by-side with them in-house. But is it so bad to have a dog that's kept in a large (30 x 15) fenced run with doghouse, and at night, in a heated mudroom with a nice dog bed? See, I know that my cat would get majorly stressed, and I love him and can't put him thru cohabbing with a dog; just can't. But we are doing fine with the dog now staying in the mudroom; cat hardly knows she's there.
Your thoughts? I am thinking of talking to Jim (Mark's cuz) about doing a trial where we could bring him home for, say, a week. I am not sure if he's a barker; I know that he barks ferociously when people are at the door! But this is a good thing for a watchdog IMO.
I was thinking down the road. Maybe I don't want to neuter him? He seems fine as an intact male, and maybe down the road if he is papered, I could sell stud service? I have experience with unneutered male dogs; I used to take care of my landlord's last 2 males that were not fixed, confined, and one was used for stud (rottie.)
Thanks!