On the dog trip again.. possible pitbull

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!

I am so bummed. I was just out there playing with her, and I get tears in my eyes, knowing that she is not mine and she'll go back home Sunday. I get so lonely sometimes being around the house.. All of my other animals are not interactive like a dog is.
My husband is not really crazy on the idea of getting a dog. He is irritated by bad dog behavior and really has no time for one. But I am the one that mans the fort here and takes care of 90% of the animal duties. And yet I am unhappy. I love all of my animals but none of them act the way a dog does.
Argh! Sorry for my teary rant but I just needed to vent :(

Awwww no need for tears.....all dogs need to be "bad dogs", just like a kid....and let me tell you something, hubby will soon learn to smile at one or two of these 'misgivings'

we picked up this dog from hurricane Katrina (OK "I" picked up this dog...lol)...I fully expected to find the owners and just wanted to help give him a nice place to stay....well...we still have the little ankle biter and I love him to pieces (always liked BIG dogs...grew up with Danes)....when the sig. other comes home, he greets this Jack Russell (the one he didn't want to get) before he greets me!!!!....He even tells the dog to Stop jumping on "Daddy's" lap...

....a mud room would be nice to help train (outside trains or paper train) but it's no place to house a dog.........knowing the little i know of YOU....I don't think you could leave him there either....the 'gooey baby eyes' WILL get you and you WILL give in....soon he'll be sleeping in the bed

not that MY dog does that :P

As far as kitty goes....that all depends on the dog...i have ALWAYS has both....even the Danes thought they were lower in the pack than the cats....I have three cats now and a Jack Russell...only one of the cats LIKES the dog (playes with him)..the other two simply growl and the dog knows to move along...

it can be done...you can have your dog....even hubby can deal with a dog that is already housebroken, used to cats and will toss him those "looooove me eyes"

Most shelters will let you "test drive" a dog....give it a shot!

wow....sorry for the long post, but I hope it helps!!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Ginevive

I am so bummed. I was just out there playing with her, and I get tears in my eyes, knowing that she is not mine and she'll go back home Sunday. I get so lonely sometimes being around the house.. All of my other animals are not interactive like a dog is.
My husband is not really crazy on the idea of getting a dog. He is irritated by bad dog behavior and really has no time for one. But I am the one that mans the fort here and takes care of 90% of the animal duties. And yet I am unhappy. I love all of my animals but none of them act the way a dog does.
Argh! Sorry for my teary rant but I just needed to vent :(

---

Jen i have had 2 pits before(with ex now :() and if i ever get another dog it will be a PIT ;).They are very loyal and will protect there owners and then some :gj:.My male (zues) was a staff/pit mix and he thought he was a lap dog.Now picture a 80lb+ dog setting on your lap giving you love :P.We had him trained to where we would "fight" and when he would grab your arm if you said owwee he would barely bite down.If you do get that pit i DEMAND PICS ASAP :8::8:

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by OhBalls

the 'gooey baby eyes' WILL get you and you WILL give in....soon he'll be sleeping in the bed

---

Yea she(jen) will sleep in the mud room
:rofl::rofl:

Any dog that I have ever had gets the run of the house. I do have big dogs and they do wear on the inside of a house which I can understand that some people couldn't accept. My opinion is that a dog considers separation from the pack as the worst punishment that can befall it. If you keep a dog outside in a kennel or dog run alone it will feel isolated and outcast. If you have 2 dogs kept like this they fare much better. One dog would be more content living in a crate in your house or in your mud room and being near you. This is an observation that I have made by having had dogs all my life and being in the 1.6 percent age group on this site.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by joepythons

Yea she(jen) will sleep in the mud room
:rofl::rofl:

---

Nawwww...yanno, guys WILL sleep in the same bed wit the pup....really.....ask my guy....once he recovers...LOL....just kidding

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by dsirkle

Any dog that I have ever had gets the run of the house. I do have big dogs and they do wear on the inside of a house which I can understand that some people couldn't accept. My opinion is that a dog considers separation from the pack as the worst punishment that can befall it. If you keep a dog outside in a kennel or dog run alone it will feel isolated and outcast. If you have 2 dogs kept like this they fare much better. One dog would be more content living in a crate in your house or in your mud room and being near you. This is an observation that I have made by having had dogs all my life and being in the 1.6 percent age group on this site.

---

I have never had more fun then telling my dog that "mommies cold" and having him PoUncE on the couch....hey, I would LOVE to believe that he does it cuz he loves me and not because he's a member of a pack......hehehe...i know i know...but the big question is....am "I" in that 1.6 percent?...LOL...

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by OhBalls

Nawwww...yanno, guys WILL sleep in the same bed wit the pup....really.....ask my guy....once he recovers...LOL....just kidding

---

I will be nice and not comment any further as i might get beat up by the ladies here :rolleyes: :rofl: :rofl:

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by OhBalls

I have never had more fun then telling my dog that "mommies cold" and having him PoUncE on the couch....hey, I would LOVE to believe that he does it cuz he loves me and not because he's a member of a pack......hehehe...i know i know...but the big question is....am "I" in that 1.6 percent?...LOL...

---

Sorry to break it to you but the dog was probably cold and YOU were keeping it warm :gj::rofl:

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by joepythons

Sorry to break it to you but the dog was probably cold and YOU were keeping it warm :gj::rofl:

---

Yanno, I AM one of those ladies that could beat ya down...LOL

*blink blinks* I don't know whether to laugh or to cry.....


SEEEE???? :rofl:

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by OhBalls

Yanno, I AM one of those ladies that could beat ya down...LOL

*blink blinks* I don't know whether to laugh or to cry.....


SEEEE???? :rofl:

---

Ehh i am not scared remember i am a pit lover and a snake lover also :rolleye2: :rolleye2:.Sorry Jen lets see some pics of that girl you are watching :please::please:

Jen, really think long about this dog. You have a husband whose not very interested in having a dog, let alone a big, intact male from a breed that while not deserving of the reptuation they have, is a breed that requires a strong leadership role from its humans. If your husband isn't into having this dog, you may find they have a lot of trouble living "together" since the dog is going to pick up on that in a flat second.

Also you have a cat and this dog isn't used to cats. Many dogs have a natural hunt instinct and dear, no matter how you try, they are going to run into each other. No one can be perfect in keeping a dog and cat apart (well maybe they can but gawd I wouldn't want the stress of trying it). If I had a cat I loved I wouldn't be bringing in any dog, let alone an larger adult intact male dog, without making absolutely sure he was cat safe. I grew up with very big, very intact GSDs. One was NOT cat safe. It was never easy dealing with that and he did manage once to kill a cat despite every effort to never let him near cats.

As far as confining a dog solely to a mud room or dog run, I personally couldn't do that. Dogs are pack driven, they need more interaction and stimulation than life basically living by themselves can give them. If you're wanting him as a guard dog, think about it - how effective is a guard dog if he's locked away while the bad guy is breaking in the front door?

I'm certainly not saying to not give this dog a home. I'm just saying that there are issues here to really think long and hard about whether this is the right dog for your family or the right time for a dog.

if you're gona get a pitbull, get the devil's den american bully!!! those monsters are awesome!!!!:gj::salute::bow::banana:

Man am I bummed. Mark called his cousin today and it turns out that he took the dog to the Spca.. yesterday. He said something about how they have 60 days to find him a home or he gets euthed. Something about his cousin being able to take him home after the 60 days instead of him being put down... I am so depressed about this. He is an awesome dog; a tractable one whose life I can trace to puppyhood, being only ever owned by his cousin. They couldn't keep him because they have a baby who's beginning to toddle around and he was stealing their toddler's food because, while he respects adults and does Not steal adults' food (I know this from sitting right next to him with a plate of food; he did not even beg.) But the baby's outstretched hand with cheerios or something is too much for the dog to resist, and it was just getting to be too much for them I guess.
He was crate trained. He spent days in his crate, and was let-out to go in the yard and when they were home he could roam the house. I figured that being in the mudroom would be similar to being in a crate while we weren't home, but with a larger area.. and I do know that the thing with the cat is a hit or miss. I am not sure how he'd be with cats; he could be horrible, or he could love cats and want to play. My mom added a cat to her household (2 large-breed dogs with retriever and GSD blood) and things went fine; she had it where the cat could retreat over a baby-gate into a bedroom if he felt threatened. Now the cat bosses her dogs around!
Bummer; my landlord just pulled down the driveway.. goodbye Sadie. I am back to getting home nights without anyone to be glad that I am here I guess.

Tried to give you good karma Jo, but it says I need to spread it around more first. I can't think of a thing to add to your post, it was dead on.

Mark is bummed too now. Seems like he does want a dog. Man, I hope that they don't find some reason to put him down, as unadoptable. I tried :(

i have two pits myself and i would highly reccomend one.ps if you do get one try to go to a shelter to get one they have some that are really just for pits. i know theres one here in chicago but im not sure where your located

if you want to get a pit or any other big assertive breed, you first have to ask yourself what kind of personality you are, if you are timid, shy,quiet, etc, a pit or rotti, big dog in general is NOT for you, as has been said, dogs are pack animals and they will test you on where they stand in the hierarchy of the pack, if he feels your not standing up to your end of the bargain of being boss, he will show you who is, i've had big dogs for 25 years, everything from mastiffs, danes,sheperds,labs, they need a leader, last thing you want is a 125 lb dog ruling the roost.

I do not take crap from dogs :) I am not a pushover who lets a dog walk all over them. I trained my mom's golden/terrier mix so dog training is not something new to me. I also train horses (not professionally or anything; just my two at home) and I know that an animal will test you!
See, I am quiet and rather reserved around humans. But I am definately not like that with animals.

I was wondering though. Is it so bad to keep a dog in a mudroom during the day when you're not home? I know that people crate their dogs. I didn't see any real difference, save for a larger area. I am only talking about fully housebroken dogs. Since I know that the reason many won't "go" in their crates, is b/c they don't want to soil their small den area. I figured that, the mudroom being a safe, comfortable and warm/cool area. Normally he would be kept in the outdoor run that's fenced-in with shelter access. And when I am home, he'd be with me in the house :)

I'm a huge fan on crate training! NONE of my four pits EVER give me a troubles over their crate. In fact they actually get excited when its time "do your thing" :giggle:

Saying "do your thing" means crate time, and they get just as excited over that as they do over "peepeepoopoo" :giggle:

Of course they always get a doggie treat after they get in their crates.

The mudroom idea sounds like it could work, just remember a bored dog can be a destructive dog, and pits can do some damage when bored.

Pitbulls are awesome pets, loyal companions, and completely full of love. I honestly would never own another breed. Good luck on whichever doggie you choose though Jen!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Ginevive

I was wondering though. Is it so bad to keep a dog in a mudroom during the day when you're not home? I know that people crate their dogs. I didn't see any real difference, save for a larger area. I am only talking about fully housebroken dogs. Since I know that the reason many won't "go" in their crates, is b/c they don't want to soil their small den area. I figured that, the mudroom being a safe, comfortable and warm/cool area. Normally he would be kept in the outdoor run that's fenced-in with shelter access. And when I am home, he'd be with me in the house :)

---

I have the sweetest suck of pit-bull in the world, you can have her lol. I feel bad because my mom is always stressed out by the dog constantly following her around the house (especially when cooking) and I am not home very often to help with her. I am sure my mom will keep her for many years, but I still feel bad sometimes.

Anyway, as for the mudroom, I personally don't see any cruelty in keeping the dog there, as long as your not gone for like half a day with him in there. My dog has a humongous cage inside my house which we keep her in if we leave for an hour or two (she chews and destroys everything in sight :(), and other than that she stays in the back room of my house which is more than big enough with her own twin sized bed (and she will chew that on occasion too).

If it were totally up to me, I would give her to someone that could train her better and give her more attention, but my mom loves the dog. We have 2 acres with a line that runs across the back yard which she spends a lot of time in.

Overall I have to say that the maximum amount of space you can give a dog is ideal, as well as the maximum amount of company, so as long as you feel that you can provide both, go for it!

Get a dogo. Talk about loyalty. They're like big pits, except they won't back down while protecting their owner, unlike pits, and they could rip a pit apart like a rag doll. Plus you can take them hunting for small or large game without a gun. Two dogos and a hunting knife and you're good for anything the forest can throw.

Many people will not accept the wear and tear and dirt that a large dog brings in the house and keeping a dog limited to an entry area of the house is done all the time by many people successfully every day. While I myself give my dogs the run of the house I know many people that take great pride in the nice condition of their home and will not. It is not terrible to do that. A dog that gets to come inside in the winter and is always within earshot of its family hasn't got it so bad. People that find that to be a bad life for a dog should come to the City of Detroit and see all the dogs that I have seen through out my former career that are kept outside on a short chain in the cold winter with no shelter and in the summer with no shade or water, tossed dry food every now and then without having any human companionship, sometimes tortured by having no collar, just a chain around it's neck that isn't expanded as the dog grows, ultimately to be abandoned when the family moves. If you want to provide a home for a dog. Go for it! I don't believe that you would neglect its husbandry with the animal experience that I am aware of you having.

Thanks for your posts! I have seen the sad side of dog ownership, Dale. In Buffalo; we used to do property management, and you'd see poor pits and rotties (mostly) tied to someone's porch railing with a tipped-over water dish, no food or shade.. and in the winter, no shelter. The SPCA has a running lineup of these dogs; I mostly see pits, shepherd/rott/lab mixes. The "people" that "own" them can't even keep themselves and their kids fed and clothed and living well.. much less their dogs :( I plan on the dog that I get, to be from a rescue/adoption situation.
My dad just informed me Sunday, that my aunt runs a dog rescue. I never knew; we don't really communicate, but she's a great lady from what I remember from her. Something I am looking into.
Missi; wish I could take your dog, from the sound of it! :)
Susan; your dogs are awesome!
Wallace; I looked up dago dogs; they look like muscular beasts! Definately my kinda dog.

Now.. the husband issue. My husband is not fully against getting a dog. But he just sees dogs in a bad light, because we have a friend that rescues dogs, and I admit that at her place it gets a little crazy. As in, dogs running amok (she fosters them and therefore doesn't have them long but always has a rotating menangerie.) And my mom's dogs. I trained her lab mix.. but she has effectively untrained him by getting a second dog when I moved out, that had no training, and she is a pushover with her dogs. I try to work with them when I visit, but I guess that it all gets undone after I leave :( A nice thing happened Sunday; one of our friends brought her border collie over. This dog was trained to a tee in agility; she even got him to leap through our tire swing! And my hubby said "wow; now THAT is a dog I would want!" Not so much the breed; I know that BCs are HIGH energy. But he saw that there are trained dogs out there. Sadly my husband thinks that a dog that we'd get, would be messing the house up, peeing in our bed.. pooping everywhere.. this is what he sees in others' dogs. But I would NOT let this happen.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by joepythons

Ehh i am not scared remember i am a pit lover and a snake lover also :rolleye2: :rolleye2:.Sorry Jen lets see some pics of that girl you are watching :please::please:

---

Sadie :) her lineage is up for grabs.
http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s...res/sadie1.jpg

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Ginevive

I do not take crap from dogs :) I am not a pushover who lets a dog walk all over them. I trained my mom's golden/terrier mix so dog training is not something new to me. I also train horses (not professionally or anything; just my two at home) and I know that an animal will test you!
See, I am quiet and rather reserved around humans. But I am definately not like that with animals.

---

Uumm you are scaring me :O :eyepoppin :eyepoppin :rofl:

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Ginevive

Sadie :) her lineage is up for grabs.
http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s...res/sadie1.jpg

---

She kinda looks like my Zues who is Staff/pit mix :gj:.She looks like a sweet loving pup :D

Boo! Sorry I didn't mean to scare you :)
I think that she does have some pit in her. She's an awesome dog and I wish that he'd just get tired of her and leave her here :)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Ginevive

Boo! Sorry I didn't mean to scare you :)
I think that she does have some pit in her. She's an awesome dog and I wish that he'd just get tired of her and leave her here :)

---

Nothing wrong with a women who can carry herself with ease :bow: :P :D.I would "mention" it to him if he ever wants her to go you will be happy to take her :gj:

Well, my husband agreed to getting a dog. See, the clincher happened today. This strange guy was at the door, I was home alone and never even heard him come up the driveway. Granted, he was just looking to rent part of the hayfields.. And granted, I have an arsenal of weapons here that could be considered self-defense.. but still. He could have been a nasty critter. I want a dog for that feeling of security that dogs bring. Not to mention the comeraderie; I want someone to play catch with, to take on walks no matter what season it is, and to be glad that I am home :)
There's more. I have clinical depression. I have just been looking for something that'll bring me outta my shell somedays, of feeling generally unenergetic and the like. I slog through 40-hour workweeks.. get home.. granted, I love my life and family, but it is something that is lacking in me. Something to make me smile.. The horses do that for me, but they are not horses that bond to humans much like some horses are. They would just as soon be out in the pasture dozing as hanging around me. And my cat, well he is a cat.
But while I watched the LLs dog last week, something clicked. That happy face looking at me, wanting me to go run, play fetch with it.. it brought out a joy in me that I have been wanting to spring out for awhile now. I need to get a dog.. it is just a matter of searching now.

Something about dog rescues. Is it really that necessary to have a fenced-in yard? Alot of places won't even adopt to you if you do not. We have that dog-run, and I guess that it could be considered a yard; it is about the size of a normal city backyard if a bit small. But I planned on tying her out to a large maple tree when, say, I am home to supervise but busy with things that she can't partake in (like training/riding the horses, or hanging laundry; that sort of thing.) I would never leave her out there for hours on end.. but I think that this is better than some fenced yards. I just think it's a shame that some rescues might not look at someone who has 300 acres to walk a dog on, because none of it is dog-fenced.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Ginevive

Something about dog rescues. Is it really that necessary to have a fenced-in yard? Alot of places won't even adopt to you if you do not. We have that dog-run, and I guess that it could be considered a yard; it is about the size of a normal city backyard if a bit small. But I planned on tying her out to a large maple tree when, say, I am home to supervise but busy with things that she can't partake in (like training/riding the horses, or hanging laundry; that sort of thing.) I would never leave her out there for hours on end.. but I think that this is better than some fenced yards. I just think it's a shame that some rescues might not look at someone who has 300 acres to walk a dog on, because none of it is dog-fenced.

---

Jen i think for the most part they are worried the dog might get loose and be run over.I would discuss your room to run if you will(along with you of course) and she will not be left alone for long periods in the run.Good luck and we need pics if and when you find your pup :gj:

After all of this, I have decided not to get a dog at this time. My husband is just too-much against it, and yes it would be unfair for a dog to be living here and know that it is halfway unwanted. So I will put it on the back burner for now.
LL is out with his pup now.. time to get a doggie fix!