getting very frustrated looking for a dog to adopt

[lupinfarm]

If you DO get a Labra-doodle, for gawds sake DON'T PAY A LOT FOR IT!
It is, after all a mix breed dog. Those "designer" breeders that sell those for big bucks, really chap my backside........
They act as though they are doing the "breed" a service when all they are truly doing is running a darn mix breed puppy mill.

Back on track and off my soapbox....
Labs make great housedogs. Both of ours go about 75-80 lbs and they only eat a cup of kibble in the AM and another cup in the PM. We feed Taste of The Wild which is a premium feed. We supplement with veggies and yogurt and a few fruits as treats.


Shirley Ann is standing, Ginger Snap is the other Chocolate, and Gracie Sue is the Golden Retriever.
http://pic40.picturetrail.com/VOL264/2074170/7177437/379633055.jpg

:/ Can't say I agree with you on the Doodle front BUT your labs are gorgeous

 

[big brown horse]

Lupin, you have beautiful dogs. I happen to love labradoodles myself, I have not met one I didn't love... I've met about 5 now.

I've only owned strays, many I got as adult dogs. Both St. Bernards I have are strays. Both came from a rescue and both lived in a foster home first. Both love other animals and one is now a fantastic LGD.

Next time around, I think I'll get a basset hound or a basset hound mix from the basset hound rescue.

I also love labs and lab mixes however, sometimes they take a long time to mature.

Good luck Pat!

p.s. I'm not saying you should look into St. Bernards. OMG they are messy and big and hairy and drooly. And they don't age very well. I love them very much, but they are not for just anyone. I do agree with you it is really nice if they were fostered first.

 

[lupinfarm]

I've always loved Basset Hounds. I, myself, am not a dog person despite living with... 6 dogs LOL now. I prefer cats and always have but I think when I do decide to purchase a dog (and I probably will some day, its just a fact of life living with my dog crazy mum), I'm thinking I'll look into Chinese Crested. There is just something about how ugly they are that makes them adorable haha.

 

[hwillm1977]

We adopted our dog Carrie from a rescue in Ontario (she's a pit bull/lab mix and therefore couldn't stay in Ontario).

They were fantastic, and we got a wonderful dog...

Maybe you could foster a dog for a rescue group and decide that way if you want to keep it (we also foster for the rescue). Foster parents always have first choice if they want to keep the dog or let it me adopted.

Here's the rescue we worked with, they have volunteers around Ontario:

www.furkidsrescue.ca

In defence of rescues that charge hundreds of dollars, most have taken a stray dog, fed it for weeks or months and had it vetted, dewormed, microchipped, spayed or neutered, and given the dog training and socialization for it to become a great dog. Sure, some are in it for the money, but the rescue we went through loses money on almost every dog they adopt... the adoption fee for Carrie was $275, that included all of the above plus her transportation from Ontario to NB and a large dog crate (which she needed to fly on the plane).

 

[Wifezilla]

Does anyone else want to reach in to that photo and pet gracie sue's ears?

 

[xpc]

Nothing wrong with having 2 dogs as then they will have someone to play with when everybody is busy. My 3 year old pit is absolutely in 7th heaven since I brought home the stray puppy 7 months ago.

So get a nice friendly mutt for the kids and let dudeface get his own dog. I let my boy pick one out at the humane society, sent him down there after finding a red bone coon hound on the website, he brought out the red nose pitbull instead. If I didn't own a house I needed a letter from the landlord, 2 referrals from coworkers, and $130 to have the dog fixed which they did before handing him over, they also had him chipped with my info.

 

[curly_kate]

People down the road are giving away free puppies. DH checked, and they are basset/lab mixes. I think I need to see them just to see what on earth they would look like. Maybe if they gave them a cute name (bassador?), they could sell them for top dollar??? My next door neighbors had a pit bull/weimeraner mixes that they sold for $100 a piece!!!! I couldn't believe that they could get people to pay for what was essentially a mutt!

 

[ViciousFishes]

Lots of good advice already given so I'll just tell my story.

Shelter dogs can come with surprises. Our girl Molly is a shepard mix. At the pound she was all happy go lucky licking everyone in sight. When she settled in at home she was afraid of strangers. She growls and barks and the hair on her back stands up. She SCARES people, though she has never shown any sign of biting thank Dog. Five minutes later she cant understand why the new people dont want to play with her!

She is great with the kids and other animals, but not the dog we thought we were getting. We have gotten some real gems at the pound, but next time will do a longer interview process to try and know exactly what we'll be getting.

Good luck
Tom

 

[freemotion]

www.furkidsrescue.ca

Daddy died?????

 

[big brown horse]

Lots of good advice already given so I'll just tell my story.

Shelter dogs can come with surprises. Our girl Molly is a shepard mix. At the pound she was all happy go lucky licking everyone in sight. When she settled in at home she was afraid of strangers. She growls and barks and the hair on her back stands up. She SCARES people, though she has never shown any sign of biting thank Dog. Five minutes later she cant understand why the new people dont want to play with her!

She is great with the kids and other animals, but not the dog we thought we were getting. We have gotten some real gems at the pound, but next time will do a longer interview process to try and know exactly what we'll be getting.

Good luck
Tom

Hi Tom, have you had her trained by a professional? Lots of times shelter dogs were taken away from their mom and litter mates too early. They grow up insecure and under-socialized. Many times this is the reason why they end up in a shelter. A little bit of training can really, really help this.

My dog had the same issues and she was aggressive towards other dogs too...not typical St. Bernard charateristics. I was at my wits end so I finally called a local dog trainer.

The training was really worth it b/c I can apply what I learned to other rescued dogs in the future if need be.