May 2010 Weddings
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  • I agree that you have to assess each dog individually.  We had a Shephard when I was a kid and she was nice to everyone and everything.  She loved small animals and let kids crawl all over her.  However, I have also seen a lot of nippy Shephards.  I would not trust all of them around children.  As for Huskies, I am not a fan of the average person owning one.  They are bred to work, ie pull sleds.  They do not typically make good pets unless they get LOTS of exercise.  If they do not get worked enough they get bored and destructive.  It is not their fault, they just need a release for all that energy.  I am a big mutt fan.  I have 3 mutts and one purebred dog.  I would recommend checking out local shelters or rescue groups. Keep in mind that puppies are A LOT of work but you can help shape their personalities.  I like to adopt adult dogs, you can tell what their personalites are.  However you are potentially adopting someone elses problems.  So, there are pros and cons to puppies and adults.  Good Luck with your adoption!!!  Feel free to message me with any questions.  I work with animals and love to help others with their adoptions!
  • I LOVE GERMAN SHEPHERDS! I grew up with them, it was the only breed my parents ever got when I was growing up and they were great with me...they'd follow me around when I'd explore the neighborhood and they let me play doctor on them and wrap them up in gauze and ace bandages and I'd ride one like a horse. They were THE best dogs. I have a puppy german shepherd now and he's training right now. The thing with their breed is, its true they are very loyal but you have to socialize them...if you get a young one have people over a lot and take them for walks at parks or wherever there are lots of people. They will learn quickly who not to go after. Its all about what you teach them to do. They are extremely smart and my 2 month old baby is already barking when the door bell rings, sitting when being asked, not biting, not chewing and he's almost 100% house trained. So, like most large breed dogs they take training and time because they don't know their own strength and they are going to have your back at all times. I also have an Australian shepherd and she is so smart...I found her and she was probably abused by her previous owner so she is my shadow dog...she follows me into the bathroom, kitchen, office, everywhere. She knows words and phrases like "excuse me, scoot over, do you need water, where's the cat, ask daddy, look over there, and more." Ive never had such a smart dog in my life and she's great with kids and small animals. I can't say enough about these two breeds...I love them. 
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  • Yesssss I definitely recommend getting an older dog, especially if it is your first! We brought Kota home when she was 9 weeks old, and holy crap, the first few months were terrible, stressful, and just stinky! We were in an apartment so it was a pain to potty train her, she chewed on everything, she chewed through 2 laptop power cords, a fan power cord, ate holes through clothes, nipped a LOT, and I swear she had about 5 times the energy she does now. But then, since we got her young we got her used to being handled and touched, you can touch her and grab her paws, her collar (she used to HATE that), put your fingers in her mouth, seriously nothing bothers her. and she LOVES to cuddle, because I'm a cuddler and I've been picking her up and holding her since she was a baby, so now she loves to snuggle me all the freakin time :) 
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  • imagejehawley:
    Sarah, the picture of your hubby holding your pup absolutely kills me.  I want to come and steal him!!  (Ahem...the dog.  Not your hubs.  Don't worry, I'm not a man-stealer)

    bahahah! come visit! he will give you tons of kisses!!!! .... the dog, not my husband.... Stick out tongue LOL 

  • imagehayleymajayley:
    she chewed through 2 laptop power cords, a fan power cord, ate holes through clothes

    hahaha... Brody ate my mattress, demolished the wall paper that was in the bathroom in my apartment, ate Adam's good leather belt, my hairbrush, my sunglasses, the power cord for my filter for my turtle tank, three or four pairs of shoes... basically anything he could get his mouth around.  He ate an entire bottle of Motrin 800s and almost died (spent the night at the E-vet and then 2 days at my regular vet)

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  • I found a chocolate lab mix on petfinder.com about an hour from where we live. A animal rescue group has him. His name is Nemo and I've fallen in love with him all ready! Here's a pic. I'm going to call about him tonight!

    Two souls but a single thought; Two hearts that beat as one image
  • What a sweet face!!!!! 
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  • imagekatyp51:

    I found a chocolate lab mix on petfinder.com about an hour from where we live. A animal rescue group has him. His name is Nemo and I've fallen in love with him all ready! Here's a pic. I'm going to call about him tonight!

     HE IS A DOLL. I also give a big thumbs up to the lab mix. Usually really well rounded dogs; They're awesome for first time owners.

  • We had a dog when we were engaged, we think she was a lab/german shepherd mix. Unfortunately she got scared during a thunderstorm one evening when we weren't there and broke her chain. She ran down the road and was hit by a truck. One of my friends called me and said she saw a dog that looked like ours laying on the side of the road. HH went to try and find her, but she was gone =[.

     

    Hhhmmmm the animal rescue group that has Nemo has to come out and see your house before they'll let you take one of their animals. Plus you have to fill our a VERY detailed application and then they'll consider letting you have the dog. I wonder if they'll even come out since I live an hour away from the shelter? That sucks that I could go through all of this and then them tell me no I can't have the dog.

    Two souls but a single thought; Two hearts that beat as one image
  • Lots of GOOD rescue groups will make you go through all of that before they'll accept your application.  It's just to make sure that you're going to take proper care of the dog and aren't just going to chain it up in your backyard and neglect it.  They just want their rescues to go to responsible pet owners.  It's pretty standard with rescue groups. 
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  • Ok, I've never dealt with a rescue group before. I know you have to fill our an app at the pound, but they dont go to your house.
    Two souls but a single thought; Two hearts that beat as one image
  • imagestu31105:
    Lots of GOOD rescue groups will make you go through all of that before they'll accept your application.  It's just to make sure that you're going to take proper care of the dog and aren't just going to chain it up in your backyard and neglect it.  They just want their rescues to go to responsible pet owners.  It's pretty standard with rescue groups. 

    yes to this! My family's (still lives with my parents) black lab mix came from a rescue group and was living in "foster care" when we found her. She was only a year old but had been abused by her previous owner (a big scary man, from what we were told). Since many of these rescue dogs already have a history, it makes sense for the groups to be more aware and make sure it doesn't happen again. Plus some of the dogs (like ours) might have some quirks due to some sort of abuse... so that's worth finding out too. We had no problems at all with this after she got to know my dad (who is a big, scary looking man). But really, she is the sweetest, most loving dog EVER. To bad she is getting old now and has arthritis....I miss my puppy now that I'm all grown up and married. :(

  • Most rescue groups DON'T go to the extent where they do a home visit, but some take their rescues very seriously.  When I got Brody, they didn't do a home visit, but I had to fill out a lengthy application and have a sit-down interview where they asked me all kinds of questions before I could take him home.

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  • Yay! HH is getting off work a little early today so he's going to meet me at our local shelter after work to look at the puppies! Maybe we'll find one there, if not I'll call about Nemo this evening!
    Two souls but a single thought; Two hearts that beat as one image
  • Yay!!!  Good luck!!!  I hope you find your baby!!!  Oh, and take pictures if you find him or her!!!
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  • imagestu31105:

    Most rescue groups DON'T go to the extent where they do a home visit, but some take their rescues very seriously.  When I got Brody, they didn't do a home visit, but I had to fill out a lengthy application and have a sit-down interview where they asked me all kinds of questions before I could take him home.

    Gulliver wasn't even a rescue, but on the application, I was asked if I would agree to a home inspection. I checked "yes" because they could have refused me on a whim and I REALLY, REALLY wanted this cat! They ended up not coming to check my place out, but I did get the 3rd degree from the 9-year-old girl who did most of the processing of my application. She even called my mother and asked if I would be a responsible pet owner. Mom said that she thought I would. ;)

  • the 9 yr old called your mom??  How cute!
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  • Haha I have a 9 year old sister and I cannot see her doing that. Of course I will take pictures of my baby when I find him!

    Two souls but a single thought; Two hearts that beat as one image
  • One of my dogs was a rescue... And I DID have somewhat of a home inspection.  After filling out a lengthy application and meeting Petey and his Foster Mom at an adoption weekend, she narrowed it down to me and a family.  She came over and brought Petey with her so that we could see how he played and reacted with Petunia (my Jack Russel).  She a asked me a few more questions and about 30 min later they left.  She called me about a week later to say that she had chosen me and that we would do a 2 week trial. 

    So he came home to me and at the end of the 2-week trial, I was given the opportunity to adopt him (I could have backed out at this point).  So I said yes and she came by to say goodbye to Petey, give him his final vaccines and sign all the paperwork.

     I heart my mutts.  They really are the best.

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  • imagestarchik9:
    Labs are my favorites!! They are the MOST adorable puppies and really sweet dogs!

    ditto! I had a black lab that we just had to put down. She was the greatest dog. 

  • We have a lab/german shepherd mix and she is wonderful.  She is very protective of us (barking when people walk by the back, etc.  But she is also very smart!  And also very adorable.  I definitely recommend crate training him if you weren't already thinking that.  We were able to leave her out of the crate after about 9 months.
    image

    <3<3 "You know my name, not my story.
    You've heard what I've done, not what I've been through.
    If you were in my shoes, you'd fall the first step." <3<3


  • imagechrisnjay2010:

    imagestarchik9:
    Labs are my favorites!! They are the MOST adorable puppies and really sweet dogs!

    ditto! I had a black lab that we just had to put down. She was the greatest dog. 

    chrisnjay2010: so not only do we have the same birthday, the same anniversary, but we also both own(ed) black labs (mine was named Zoi).... i don't know how much more of this I can take!!

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