May 2010 Weddings
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Our tech team has launched updates to The Nest today. As a result of these updates, members of the Nest Community will need to change their password in order to continue participating in the community. In addition, The Nest community member's avatars will be replaced with generic default avatars. If you wish to revert to your original avatar, you will need to re-upload it via The Nest.
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Thank you.
Note: This only affects The Nest's community members and will not affect members on The Bump or The Knot.
Question
HH and I are finally ready to get a puppy but we're having trouble deciding what kind to get. At first we were wanting a husky but I read a few things suggesting they would chew up anything and that really worried me. Then we were thinking about getting a german shepherd, but after talking to a trainer last night there's no way we could have one. She told us that they are VERY protective of their owners and have a tendency to bite people who come into their yards. We have people stopping at our house all the time so that definitely would not work. Well this morning HH was at work and saw a man who had a picture of a husky and he asked if he owned one. The man told my HH that he has 4 huskies and they're all a bunch of babies and they're great dogs. He also has a german shepherd and he said its very hard to control. So my question is do any of you ladies have experience with any either of these dogs? Or do you have any recomendations on a dog? Ours will be an outside/inside dog and we don't want anything too small. TIA!
Two souls but a single thought; Two hearts that beat as one
Re: Question
I'm in agreement about the German shephards. I had a previous significant other for 4 years who owned 2 of them during our time. Both were very well trained and controlled by him, but he said the older one (who he broke before I met him) was a tough one. It can be done, but it takes a lot of work.
I don't have any insight about huskies. Good luck!
And I meant to add that my parents have a boxer and we absolutely love her! She is one of the friendliest dogs I've ever been around. She loves kids and people. But she doesn't like cats (she tried to eat our kitten...no joke) or any other outdoor rodents - she kills stuff in the yard all the time, like ground hogs, rabbits, snakes, etc. I think if Lucy had been around when the boxer came home, everything would've been fine cuz she has no problems with my parents other little dog, their mini schnauzer.
We are leaning strongly toward getting a boxer when we have a house and yard big enough to have one. They have very short hair, so the shedding isn't quite so bad.
Thanks! Its very important to us that whatever dog we get is friendly and good with kids. We go camping alot with my family and I have a 9 year old sister. Plus we do plan on having kids at some point and I don't want to have to get rid of our dog when we do.
We had a husky when I was young and I come from a big family, so he was fine with kids.
He was stolen though. You have to be careful. Some breeds are more likely to be napped. As weird as stealing a dog sounds.
I completely agree! Our dogs were always Humane Society critters (except one, a purebred spaniel, who was a perpetual nervous wreck). In my experience, you can tell enough about the individual dog's core personality by playing with it for a few minutes. From that point on, they respond to the love and care you give them in kind.
Huskies ARE beautiful, but make sure that you're prepared for all of the shedding. They shed A LOT and have to be brushed all the time. They also tend to be hyperactive. They're supposed to be super smart though. have you looked on petfinder.com to see if you can find a husky mix, maybe? Googled their health issues:
Health issues in the breed are mainly genetic such as seizures and defects of the eye (juvenile cataracts, corneal dystrophy, and progressive retinal atrophy). Hip dysplasia is not often found in this breed; however, as with many medium or larger-sized canines, it can occur.[16] The Orthopedic Foundation for Animals currently has the Siberian Husky ranked 148th out of a possible 153 breeds at risk for hip dysplasia, with only two percent of tested Siberian Huskies showing dysplasia.[17]
CRAP SARA WHY did you mention petfinder.com? Now I am sitting here making little squee sounds as I see lists and lists of dogs I simply MUST adopt and pet and squeeze and love. Except I can't adopt any dogs right now.
The stray cat that our next-door neighbor feeds had her kittens a few weeks ago, but only one made it. Now momma cat and baby cat are camped out 10 feet from our front door, because that's where the neighbor put the food and the cat beds and such. I have to look at that little ball of orange and white fur every time I go in or out and it is KILLING me. We have first shot at adopting it, but we keep deciding that it's better for us to be a one-cat household right now. And then I see the little fluffball and I waaaaaannt iiiitttt. So I have to go through this torture multiple times a day!
I used to work at a dog daycare/grooming/boarding facility, and frequently dog sit. This is my experience from working with dogs, and from other dogs I've met:
Huskies are high energy. They love to run. They also love to "sing". Sometimes they can be obnoxious. They shed a TON. Some are very sweet and people oriented, while others are very independent. Do a lot of research before you decide on a breed... I read up on great danes for a year and a half before getting one.
haha... Sorry!!! That's how I ended up getting Brody. Adam and I had just started dating and I was randomly looking on petfinder. I kept telling myself... I do NOT need a dog... I do NOT need a dog... then I saw this cute little booger and HAD TO HAVE HIM!!!
This was his photo on petfinder.... please ignore the scary guy with the super-awesome shirt holding him!!!
The "after" picture... about 90 pounds later....
I have friends who have 2 huskies and they chew up everything and shed everywhere. They can be really sweet though, but she has to vacuum every day or her house is covered in hair.
My HH and I have a chocolate lab and we love him so much. He is so friendly and love everyone. I think labs make great family pets.
My brother's cats were Bo, Luke, and Daisy!!
Here's a picture of some lab-collie mixes at our local animal shelter. They're 6 weeks old and both boys. I REALLY want to go look at them! I'm hoping we can tonight!
I may die if I don't get to adopt this Brittany that I found, but I guess I'll just have to run that risk. We definitely don't have room for a dog this big in our townhouse, and I can just imagine Matt getting an eyeful (and noseful) of all of that fur... But OMG she is so beautiful and they say she is so sweet!!!!!
Dogs are individuals just like people, so while some breeds may tend to act a certain way, not all dogs are the same!
Huskys are VERY energetic, and they love love love to chew (but don't all dogs?) I have an Alaskan Klee Kai which is a miniature husky, but I swear she has the energy of a full size!! We used to have some serious problems with her chewing, but it's gotten better now that she's older (she's 1.5 yrs) and yes, they do shed a TON. I am allergic to dogs but I just take Zyrtek and use a prescription nasal spray and my allergies are fine. When they "talk" or "sing" to you it is incredibly cute
Dakota doesn't do it a ton, but I love it when she does! She is so precious haha.
All dogs can be a lot of work, you have to train them (some people seriously don't get this, they think you can just yell POTTY and they automatically know what you mean... soooo not true) clean up after them, buy them lots of toys and food and treats, and take them to the vet.. lots of work and expenses! But they are freakin awesome
I love my dog more than anything! (some days more than my husband hahahahaha)
This is a photo of Stella on the day we brought her home. I don't care who you are, there is no way you could resist that face!!
I would definitely recommend getting a mixed breed dog over a pure bred. They tend to be healthier too, because they don't have the genetic defects that are typical in pure breds. Pure breds just mean that there was a LOT of in-breeding back in the day, which is why different breeds have specific health concerns. (Think British royal family!)
The only reason I could think for wanting to get a pure-bred dog would be if you were going to put it in a dog show...
the important thing to remember is not all dogs are the same! Not every German Shepherd is aggressive!!! Although they do say females are more protective than males.
We have a boy. He is pretty high energy, but we didn't fix him because we want to breed. He has never ever ever EVER bitten anyone. He is SO good with kids and other dogs... he actually lets little dogs beat him up. A lot of a dog's temperament depends on the owner, not it's breed. Pits and Rotties get such a bad name too, but I've been around my neighbor's my entire life and they are the sweetest dogs ever!!!!
We have a boxer named Rocco and a rescue dog that is mostly black lab named Sosha.
There are definitely upsides to both. Our rescue dog was much easier to kennel train prob bc she was use to a kennel. Rocco hated his kennel from day one. He literally ate the bottom of his kennel. But, Rocco is much friendlier. Sosha is much more likely to run under the bed when guests arrive.
I really think it is the owner's training and the individual dog rather than the generalization of a breed. (Most boxers I've known are SO annoying, but Rocco isn't
)