HELP!!! I can't help myself!!

[Kim Rule]

Okay, this is STUPID!!! We have one large dog, 5 cats and 5 little horses. I have been wanting for the longest time to find a little dog to ride in the cart with me, and go places, like shows and stuff. I'd love to have a Sheltie, or an Aussie.

We tried a rescued adult Sheltie, and she was just too nervous for everything that goes on in our household. I wanted her so badly I could taste it, but we had to send her back. It just wasn't fair to her. The cats were highly P.Oed...to say the least.

It really upset our household to have that additional dog here, but I can't help it, I want a little dog...Someone tell me I'm nuts, and find a cure for this!!! PLEASE!!!!!

Maybe a puppy would be better??? But it has to be small, but not irritating...It can't be like a (sorry Lisa) Chuaua...or better known (to my hubby) as a rat on acid!

Our current dog is really nice, but he's just too big to take places...besides, he's Kyle's (my son) dog...and I wouldn't want to take the dog, and leave Kyle at home.

Is there a cure for the "Gottahaveanotheranimal" bug?

Kim R.

 

[Lisa-Ruff N Tuff Minis]

Maybe a puppy would be better???  But it has to be small, but not irritating...It can't be like a (sorry Lisa) Chuaua...or better known (to my hubby) as a rat on acid! 

Kim R.

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Ok first off Lets compare irritating lol my chi's barking or your ash running into you with a toy and running amuck thru the house

I would say for your house with cats coming and the door open most of the time in the spring and summer a aussie would NOT be a good choice especially given the horses and the cats

Hard to find the right fit for sure maybe a JRT ?? or a corgi I know someone with pups or a mini weenie dog know someone with those pups as well.

 

[minisaremighty]

KIM! I can NOT believe you started this topic!!!!! I'm sooooooo there with you!!!!

EVERY day I think about it! I've thought of starting my own topic, but figured everyone would think I was nuts! LOL!!!

I want the same thing you are looking for. We currently have a MinPin, too small and fragile for me. We also have a golden retriever/border collie mix, a little too big (although she is my luvbug and I love her to death). I just want a dog bigger than the minpin to be my bud to go everywhere with me. The ONLY breed hubby will agree to is a corgi. That works for me.

BUT, we just can't get one yet. We had another dog in the house for 7 months (long story, he was lost, we found him, took that long to find owners, he is now back with them). It was NOT that great. It's been a relief since he's been gone (although I loved him to pieces). Just concerns me that if I DO get another dog, it will be the same thing over again.

Yet, I find myself looking at the classifieds EVERY day. And there are several available.

UGH. I wish there was a shot for it. Just make it go away so I can just enjoy what I already have.

Sorry I can't help you, but I can certainly commiserate with you!!!

 

[littlehorse2]

I have a dog if you want him. He's a toy fox terrier. He'll be 1year in February. It's my mom's dog and they just haven't bonded like she had hoped. She wants to find him a good home. Any takers? Let me know. He's cute and with some good training he would be the perfect dog for a cart.

Christy

 

[runamuk]

OK I would say from what I know of your household which admittedly isn't much

a sheltie may not be into the commotion all the coming and going they as a breed do not like being left alone at all and they just seem to prefer environments that are very very routine and fairly calm with occasional bursts of busy.......yes I do know a number of sheltie breeders/retired breeders and grew up with shelties...

Don't take this the wrong way.......you do not want an aussie......I have one I love him...but they need alot of work and alot of room....real stock work/herding training for trials, or competitive obedience...or agility....they are not just a house dog....believe me mine goes ape when we do not do enough work.....try picturing this a 45 lb dog chasing the cats over the furniture at mach 10 (yes my cats are bad and play along) ...do you like dogs standing in the middle of your dining table?....how about when they chase/herd your other dog? My one dog finds this real annoying....... if you leave them behind they are not happy we lost the trim around the front door by being outside for 1/2 hr and leaving him in the house, we have to crate him when we are away.......do you like help showering, bathtubbing, using the john? do you like a dog literally on your heels every time you turn around? .....they must work or else they will find something very very fun to do but you wont find it fun

oh and mine is mellow by aussie standards

don't be fooled mini aussies come from the same background and are really just small aussies....I know someone that has what I would have thought was a mini aussie...nope she is a regular and she has some serious cattle championships yet is tiny compared to my dog.......

You know......if you want small....what about a pug.....low maintenance coat....tend to do well with cats other animals....kind hearted/loving.....not super active or overly clingy........and they are occasionally available even through shelters/rescues......I know I took one to Washington last summer

another thought is if you are unsure of what might fit...why not volunteer as a foster home then you could "try out a breed" and help a dog at the same time

 

[lyn_j]

[SIZE=14pt]I got the bug too.... I found a breeder that is having a litter of blue and tan mini doxies!!!! Im begging Barry but not making any headway. We have Esther who is my guide who weighs 76 pounds.... three corgis in the 20-26 pound range who prefer outside to inside and little Annie the Red dapple doxie inside.... What to do.... any vaccine or antidote available????[/SIZE]

Oh yes and we have two adopted kitties from Cheryl ...they are Tinker and Toy. Two neutered boys who are destined to become barn cats when old enough.

Lyn

 

[Lisa-Ruff N Tuff Minis]

Rori I agree pugs are great dogs but in general need to be in a house with central air and such they dont always handle heat really well..

Ok here is one for you..they sound prissy but really arent and are good all around dogs what about a poodle?

And of course you know I understand.. I just had to get the chi pup from the lady who was with parnell stables at Nationals boy I wish I knew how to get ahold of her to tell her how much we love Bruno

 

[Farmhand]

We're getting another Lab in the spring from the same breeder we got the last one from. This one is going to be a Yellow Lab.

 

[Boinky]

well i have two beautiful purebred registered 6 month old aussies that are looking for homes! they would make awesome farm dogs or companions. both are black tri's. I also just had a litter of three mini/standard aussie cross pups. I suspect they will stay mini sized, as a breeder i know, told me that if they odn't gain over 1lbs a week typically they stay mini sized and they are a little over 4 weeks and the biggest is just a little over 4lbs. 2 blue merle females and 1 black tri male. Yes aussies need stimulation..but if you take them to the barn with you a few times a day and do stuff with them they should be fine. mine are all content to be couch potatoes. they ARE ready to go outdoors anytime someone goes out but are happy being slugs the rest of the time. My older aussies love going for rides in my cart(s) (big and mini carts) and love to help with chores. i can't honestly say as though i've ever had any of the problems afore mentioned by another poster with any of mine. I currently have 4 adult aussies (most from strong working lines...) and then the three new pups and the three 6 month old pups they are all docile and loveable and willing to please and encredibly intelligent! My dogs also do not have problems with cats. Outdoors if the cats run they will chase them but do not hurt them. One of my dogs doenst' like cats but that's because my brothers Aussie had a bad experience with cats and hates them and taught my other one to dislike them. He actually isn't bad with them..i just watch him when they are around (I don't personally have cats of my own though). I've found if they are raised with cats or introduced well you shouldn't have a problem at all. Aussies typically adjust well to differnt situations and alot of activity going on in your home.

contact me for more info if your intrested on My aussies or even if you just have questions about aussies. my web page is www.boinky.net e-mail [email protected] as well.

 

[Boinky]

ohh yeah..btw.. the price is very negotiable to a GOOD home on the 6 month old pups. they should be very healthy dogs. both parents have had hip/eye certifications and are both very healthy themselves.

 

[Lisa-Ruff N Tuff Minis]

Ok I do have to say in defense of these herding dogs I have BC and while i would NEVER own one again as they arent the dog for me- and she is bouncy and hyper and attached to my hip and always reading me for every little expression and is totally exhausting..

I have to say on the plus side.. she is smart, housebroke in day, learns to sit stay and down in a few hours.. (assuming she will sit still long enough to do it.)

She is very gentle and as i type this is on my bed playing with the chi pup she is careful with him and patient and very loving. she is great with the kids and the cats (although still has a scar on her nose from being a bit to umm exuberent)

Over all she is a good dog the horror stories I have heard are not totally true with her although I can see how they could get here lol

YOu just have to have the right personality for a dog like a BC or a Aussie

 

[minimomNC]

I also want another dog, I already have 4 but I want another small dog to be Tate's friend. I probably won't get one though because its hard taking two dogs everywhere and Tate goes almost everywhere with me. He loves to travel and really likes meeting new people. He was with me at both R Nationals and World this year, he was about 6 months old then. But I love him alot and just don't think I would find another one like him. I thank Lee Crutchfield in my heart every day for giving Tate to me. He was a blessing when I needed him most. Good luck on your search, I know what having one with all the time is like, priceless.

Yes, I have wonderful Liz pictures of my dog.

 

[runamuk]

thanks boinky and lisa...make me sound like a moron......my aussie is under a year and yes he will hop on the dining table if the kids leave a chair out and something neat on it......and the way my living room is set up if he is on the other side of the couch..well going over it is alot faster than around it

and he is real cute when he climbs the chair to the windowsill (picture an aussie shaped 45 lb cat) when I leave him in and go let the other dogs out for their turn......

Now I am all for the breed and admit I never would have imagined myself owning and loving one so much...he is always at my side but he seems to read my mind so I rarely ever trip over him......he is smart as a whip.......he is at an age where all obedience is a must and a constant ...as I tell the kids do not tell him to sit, down, wait,come unless you mean it...he is too smart to be allowed to do things half way.......he has been exposed to sheep and totally leaves my horses alone BUT horses have been offlimits since day one period.......he has easily 3 acres that he can romp on and still not be in a pasture....yet he is never outside unsupervised as we do not allow "freelancing" and believe me he will try

...honestly I do not think I could have him on less than a 1/3 of an acre with 6 or so mini horses and cats and another dog.......I just cannot picture a happy dog in his case with so little space and so crowded...now if there were no horses and he could do agility or flyball then yes I could see that........as I said mine is actually mellow compared to the working breeder's dogs I met who is helping me with herding instruction her dogs are very polite but definately bred to work......

 

[Feather1414]

Hmmm I am not the person to talk to about this...

Last Wednesday, I adopted two rats. Tommorow, my brother is getting a rabbit, and we may be bringing home a puppy, since our dog died on Thanksgiving. Then we are talking about getting a Bichon Frise as well.

Hmmm... I wonder if through all this I could talk mom into letting me get another mini...

 

[capall beag]

Another dog, that is always a good idea

I have 4 JRT's and love them!!!!!!!!! But my kitties don't share my enthusiasm!!

Mini Dachshund's are great and there is a lady who will have or has pups on this forum!!

 

[rabbitsfizz]

Having survived a near disaster with the biggest male Doberdog I have ever seen (actually a cross Beurceron) which I did have to send back- a lot the previous owners had not told me - like he was five and had never been let off the lead!!!!- he stood 30 " at the shoulder and I just could not go through all that again, so now I am sidling up to the idea of a Doberpuppy- a dog, this time, the first one I have ever had from a pup since I was a kid.

I want a Show Dog, a real, top, show dog.

I have always wanted to get a dog of my own to Crufts, so I thought maybe I'd have a go.

It would also be the first undocked Doberdog to get there.

Watch this space!!!

 

[keeperofthehorses]

I can cure this craving Kim... I'll show you my small animal vet bills for the past year.

Worse than the horses.... But I know how you are feeling. I really miss having a Border Terrier and Dobermans. Someday... but not right now.

Smaller breeds that I like are Boston Terriers (little clowns, what a hoot), JRT's (definitely not for everyone), well I like most all of the terrier breeds but especially Jacks and Borders, they seem to be a natural fit with horses; Frenchies, Pugs... I really like Corgis, but to me, they are really a medium sized dog, a little harder to just scoop up and carry. I like Shelties, but too much grooming for my taste. A dog around here must be wash-n-wear. I have a Chi-Rat somethingorother that is a wonderful little dog.

There are rescues for just about any breed you can think of now (small dogs are HARD to find in shelters around here).

 

[Jill]

Dogs are such a blessing and so much company. I don't know what I'd do without my little dogs. Love my big ones, too, but my little ones (especially Winston & Willow) are just so important to me.

I think you should go for it!!!

 

[Kim Rule]

Okay you guys, with your offer of dogs...you're not helping!!!!!

My husband and I had a real tussel over breeds. I would LOVE a Corgi. Kris says they looked like a sawed off German Shepards. I have a friend with a big horse that drives. I watched her drive in the arena with the Corgi running after her. It was a pretty determined dog! And, don't mention a poodle to Kris...he keeps saying that he wants a real dog...he's have a husky if I'd let him...but I keep saying I want a SMALL dog!!!

The Sheltie or Aussie is kind of a compromise...The Sheltie was the perfect size. I had met other dogs that belonged to the rescuer, and they were SO COOL!!!! The woman is not returning my calls though, so I think that I must have made her mad by returning the little girl. She just wasn't a good fit.

Lisa, I know what you mean about Border Collies. Ash is a BC cross, and believe me, I realized what a cat person I am when he was a puppy. For those of you that don't know Ash, he weighs in at about 75 lbs. He's got the Keeshond full body with a BC temperment. He's mellowed, but when he was a puppy living in a trailer park, he was HE...you know what! His way of stopping people was to body slam into the backs of their knees!!! He ate my bicycle!!!! I wanted to neuter him on the kitchen table with a rusty butter knife! I crate trained him, and potty trained him...(Lisa, how did you do it in a day?) and when we moved to our property he mellowed out wonderfully. He is a really cool, laid back dog. Who LOVES to play. If I could shrink him to about a third of his size, I'd be really happy!

Kim R.

 

[Lisa-Ruff N Tuff Minis]

You know kim one thing I found out about BC is well they are not always the most assertive dogs or should I say maybe independent or maybe even insecure not sure which word it would be and her almost obsession about keeping me pleased is a huge help- she literally made 2 messes on the floor the first 24 hours and that was it.. I didnt even yell at her but gave her "the look" and put her outside from then on she scratched at the door whenever she needed to go out- not an accident since from her. But "the look" can send her flying under the futon thinking i cant see her- I taught her at like 10 weeks to sit and shake and lay down in a matter of a couple hours for all 3 she is very very smart but when the house gets to busy either people or animals she kinda loses it and gets out of control. Again great dog but sure wouldnt be my choice again although .. perhaps in the next 10 years or so with her she will change my mind..(ok no i doubt that lol)