Any animal lovers in here?

DUCE, That would be SO cool! I love to watch the races on TV. I haven't got a clue though how you actually train horses to do the things you want them to do.

I love the races though....

 

Stevin, why don't you try one of those hypoallergenic and bald cats?

 

Like Mr. Bigglesworth in Austin Powers?

No, Thank you!

[ 05. August 2003, 12:44 PM: Message edited by: Stevin Oudshoorn ]

 

I see your point. They are just too ugly to see them everyday and much worse, feed them!

Anyway, I still have the problem of the dog here... I don't want a dog. But what do you do when your loved one has been begging for it for a year? (Kind of need an advice here...)

 

Chris wants a dog. I say it is a dog's life for a dog living in the city; nowhere to run, no garden to play in. Cooked up in the house. Both of us (you) working.

Who will end up feeding and walking it??....Exactly! No dog!

You can tell him he can start off with a rabbit. And when he proves he is diligent in feeding and walking 'fluffy', you will consider getting him a dog...How about that?

 

I laid my dog to rest less than a month ago after 15 wonderful years, then I purchased a wolf.......nobody comes to my door now unannounced !

 

Sorry to hear that, Erich.

Is your wolf anything like Diefenbaker from the series Due South? Living where you are and owning a wolf almost makes you a Brendan Fraser (= mounty!)

 

I try to only let him out at night but he usually breaks through his cage and on occassion he gets out of the house to take on the neighbor's cats....it is interesting though, the last week my neighborhood bird population seems to be on the increase !

~E dang I've to go feed him right now

 

Good for your new pet, Erich! But... isn't it illegal to own a wolf? I mean, weren't they in extinction peril?

Stevin, no rabbits...! What is going to happen to all my plants and flowers?!

Besides, if we buy a dog, HE is going to take care of it entirely! And if we buy one, it is going to be a beautiful, blond and silly Golden Retriever! No small dogs... But we live in a small flat (it used to be big until I crowded it with plants and books) and there wouldn't be much space for the dog nor Friedrich's mood to bear an animal in here...

 

Freidrich...

Golden Retrievers are okay even in smaller places, they just need to be able to get walked every day. And be careful if you get a pup. They'll chew. So what I'd suggest is that if you do get a puppy you buy something called a "nylabone"...not sure if they'd have them where you live, but ask around. Once the puppy or dog starts chewing on it I guarantee you that they'll be less likely to chew on anthing else (inlcuding your beloved plants).

My suggestion though is that you look for an adoption pet first. Often times you can find one who is already house broken, usually spayed or neutered and already had the majority of the vet work done. When I bought Simone she cost only $160 and she had been spayed, all her shots done etc. And she's still fairly young - only three years old. Other than that it cost about an extra $50 for a new dish and toys.

Either way, whether you get a puppy or an older dog, it'll be quite expensive to start off, so be ready for it:

Puppy
Collar and Leash
Food and Water Dishes
Chew Toys (stay away from anything rawhide and don't get any ropes for now)
Kennel (one that will fit the dog even when it is full grown)
Bag of Puppy food - I feed my dogs Nutro Lamb and Rice, which is good quality for fairly cheap and because it has lamb in it it is good for the skin and coat.

Older dog
the list is about the same except that you don't need the puppy dog food, you'd need large breed adult. And realize that they do eat quite a bit. A golden retriever should go through a 40 pound bag every month to month and a half.

My 3 dogs go through a 40 pound bag every month. Feeding once a day every day according to size and weight.

It sounds like a lot to worry about but you have to keep in mind that Retrievers (or any dog for that matter) can live anywhere from 10 to 16 years, depending on how you treat them (which is really old for a larger dog) and it's like having a 2 year old the entire time. Retrievers are quite active but they are one of the best breeds I've ever owned. Great family pets and, like any dog, they'll love you forever.

Ciao,
DUCE

 

Fried :

Seriously no they are not protected and yes I could and do have one! and his name is Loki

 

Thank you, very much, Ducetta! That's much appreciated. Yes, I know about those chewing bones... As long as my bf walks the dog, keeps everything clean and unchewed (mostly books and plants) everything will be fine...

OK, Erich. But is your wolf a typical North-American wolf like the ones we see in films?

And the name, Loki. It is because of a Nordic mithology God, isn't it? My crazy bf uses that character for his poems often...

 

Fried, getting to your dog problems, who will be cleaning up the turds on the floor ?

Never a puppy again here, I just let Loki out several times a day and he roams and is quite good about going behind the trees and shrubs in our little park.
Yes his name is from the Germanic/Scandanavian myths and yes my wolf is a joker being part Alaskan and European. As you can see by his sig he is dark grey and black and is one mean, bad boy, and I have to keep him constantly entertained or he starts tearing the wallpaper off the walls in the living quarters

~E

 

Let me tell you that he doesn't look very friendly in your signature...

And of course I AM NOT going to clean anything! That's why I love plants, then do not make things dirty!

 

My aunt has a husky wolf cross out on the acreache named Chinook. He's bloody huge and one of the best dogs I've ever seen. Doesn't let anybody get near the horses or other animals unless someone he knows is there too. Bloody great dog.

DUCE

 

der Altenwolf stands about 6' 9" and is quite the formidable character, especially at night !

About 18 years ago I had a Malemute/wolf mix by the name of Ingrid. She was lean and mean and could jump a 6 foot fence with ease. hated the summer due to the thick coat and fir was everywhere, but what a protector of the kids. Remember her on summer eve actually morn about 2.30 hrs, and we had a low life sneek around the north side of our house to do a little peeping Tom trick. i let her out the back of the house and with one sniff she buzzed around the north side and chased the guy down two blocks. i ran out the front with light in hand and the guy was running as fast as he could and she was playing with him merrily prancing after him, only when he fell over his feet and was laying on the pavement did she grab him by the neck and pinned him to the ground. i told him one move and she will tear your throat out. The cops came about 10 minutes later, and removed one scared slime ball off the streets for good.......idiot !

anyway one of the best loving dogs I ever had, she was unusual in that she was overall a gold and white with black streaks down her back and on her face. Quite a fierce presence she gave everyone by her looks......and thus today Altenwolf is born !

 

Hi General, I'm glad your back from your space trip.

If you want an interesting pet and have the cash you can click this link and buy almost anything you want. Wolves are at the bottom of the page.

A monkey that can sing with you could earn you some extra cash, plus free publicity and fame ! You could probably get one alot cheaper in Mexico.

http://www.users.qwest.net/~tmn/availableanimals.htm

[ 05. August 2003, 09:24 PM: Message edited by: TA152 ]

 

Thanks, Tank!

A monkey singing opera? That would be interesting...

Well, I have to think it very deeply before I tell the bf that I have considered having a dog. Because once I say it, condemned I will be...

 

We have a very friendly Abyssinian cat who often sits between me and the computer screen if he feels that the Forums are getting more attention than he is.

He looks very much like this one ; -

http://www.abyworld.com/static/kartircl.htm

( Miaow ! )