Adopting A Pet

[E.A Rumfield]

So I want to adopt an animal. I was thinking about getting a dog or a cat. I grew up around dogs but I've recently taken a liking to cats. I would like a dog but I think they are more work than cats less independent etc. If I were to get a dog I'd probably get a husky or a shepard. That would be cool because I could take the dog on runs. I think in the end it would come down to which animal would be less expensive to maintain. What do you people think?

[Shevek]

So I want to adopt an animal. I was thinking about getting a dog or a cat. I grew up around dogs but I've recently taken a liking to cats. I would like a dog but I think they are more work than cats less independent etc. If I were to get a dog I'd probably get a husky or a shepard. That would be cool because I could take the dog on runs. I think in the end it would come down to which animal would be less expensive to maintain. What do you people think?

Better criteria are which animal would be more difficult to maintain, and which animal fits your lifestyle best. Cats require less attention and are better if you are living alone. I prefer dogs myself, but they can be a pain if you're the only one raising it. A friend of mine had a dog who got separation anxiety because he was the only one taking care of it, and he was out of his apartment a lot. Eventually he gave it away.

If you are strapped for cash and worried about being able to financially support a dog or cat, you should probably delay the decision.

[billl]

Owning a pet will also make moving abroad much more difficult. So if you can envision yourself wanting to move to this or that other country, for the sake of adventure/education/employment, etc. at some point over the life of the pet, you should research the cost of such a move (e.g. getting a place to live that's suitable for the pet), the length of the trip, as well as quarantine requirements (it would not be uncommon to be separated for a month). It might seem like a strange thing to take into account, but if you're young and aren't exactly sure where your future lies, over the course of the next decade or so a pet might turn an otherwise exciting adventure for you into something that's basically impossible.

[Emil Miller]

So I want to adopt an animal. I was thinking about getting a dog or a cat. I grew up around dogs but I've recently taken a liking to cats. I would like a dog but I think they are more work than cats less independent etc. If I were to get a dog I'd probably get a husky or a shepard. That would be cool because I could take the dog on runs. I think in the end it would come down to which animal would be less expensive to maintain. What do you people think?

There are a number of questions around what you are considering: such as, where you live, is it in a city or open country? What about vet's fees, which are usually high. Feeding costs are manageable for most people but it depends on one's budget. If you live alone there's the problem already mentioned of what to do with the animal when you are away.
I have a cat and I wouldn't be without her as I find felines to be beautiful creatures and she takes away a lot of stress just simply by being so relaxed when she's not out hunting birds and mice. On the whole a cat is, in my view,a lot less expensive than a dog, especially if you are considering a large animal which consumes much more food than even the largest domesticated cat.
One important thing to be aware of is the absolute necessity of keeping a newly purchased cat inside the house for at least two weeks before letting it outside. If this isn't done, the cat will invariably try to return to its former home and will go missing.

[Whifflingpin]

Don't do it

[Jack of Hearts]

Owning a pet will also make moving abroad much more difficult. So if you can envision yourself wanting to move to this or that other country, for the sake of adventure/education/employment, etc. at some point over the life of the pet, you should research the cost of such a move (e.g. getting a place to live that's suitable for the pet), the length of the trip, as well as quarantine requirements (it would not be uncommon to be separated for a month). It might seem like a strange thing to take into account, but if you're young and aren't exactly sure where your future lies, over the course of the next decade or so a pet might turn an otherwise exciting adventure for you into something that's basically impossible.

This is about it. Pets are such an emotional investment. Consideration for their needs can stop you from doing a lot of things. This reader wanted a dog pretty badly- but if he'd gotten one he might still be in the United States right now;

things that weigh you down.




J

[Helga]

I love dogs, I couldn't imagine not having my two boys. That being said it is true that they need a lot of attention and cost a certain amount. Cats are cheaper I guess and easier to leave alone . I am willing to sacrifice for my dogs. It is hard for me to visit another country and just this summer I had to go to a wedding and spend the night there and it took me a long time to find people to take care of them for 24 hours.

If you have someone around that would be willing and able to dogsit when you need to than dogs are great companions. You said that you run so that is great for a dog, a good run a few times a week is great, especially if you are thinking about an active dog like a husky.

I think it's great to get a dog but you need to (like someone said before) to be sure it fits your lifestyle.

Also be sure you are ready for 15 years of companionship.

[Emil Miller]

This is about it. Pets are such an emotional investment. Consideration for their needs can stop you from doing a lot of things. This reader wanted a dog pretty badly- but if he'd gotten one he might still be in the United States right now;

things that weigh you down.




J

Swapping the US for the South of France sounds like a dream come true but given that dogs are just about everywhere in France, why not get one now: or have you gone off the idea?

[Jack of Hearts]

Swapping the US for the South of France sounds like a dream come true...

Only in a particular sense- a personal dream come true. Parts of the US are wonderful and beautiful. Then again, parts of the US are Dallas, TX.


but given that dogs are just about everywhere in France, why not get one now: or have you gone off the idea?

Love the idea, but it doesn't fit with the present lifestyle of being overly amorous with les mademoiselles, staying out late and writing a lot at odd hours. While the relationship with a dog (or a cat) is probably worth the investment, responsibility would be such a bummer right now.









J

[Emil Miller]

Only in a particular sense- a personal dream come true. Parts of the US are wonderful and beautiful. Then again, parts of the US are Dallas, TX.



Love the idea, but it doesn't fit with the present lifestyle of being overly amorous with les mademoiselles, staying out late and writing a lot at odd hours. While the relationship with a dog (or a cat) is probably worth the investment, responsibility would be such a bummer right now.



J

I'll have to take your word for it that parts of the US are beautiful, because I have never been there and have no desire to do so. However, my experience of the South of France does allow for a reticence in taking on board a pet when life is already agreeable enough without one.

[Jack of Hearts]

I'll have to take your word for it that parts of the US are beautiful, because I have never been there and have no desire to do so. However, my experience of the South of France does allow for a reticence in taking on board a pet when life is already agreeable enough without one.

Your posts have a funny flavor to them.









J


EDIT: Ah, bergamot. Vous êtes anglais.

[qimissung]

You can also do a little research. Here's a link for information about dogs:


http://www.dogchannel.com/dog-breeds/dog-breeds.aspx?cm_mmc=Google-_-Keywords-_-dogs-_-NA&gclid=CLqv4MDQlbICFQHatgodvAIAlA


Be careful about getting a German Shepherd. I read some posts somewhere by shepherd owners that they often require a job. They are very active and very intelligent and will require a strong hand to manage them.

Also, everybody's suggestion about your future is something to think about. You don't want to have to give it away if a great opportunity shows up.

You might consider fostering a dog or a cat for a short while to give you the feel of the kind of animal you'd like. I think this is a decision that is split between rational and emotional. The rational: what kind of animal would work best with your lifestyle? Emotional: Without thinking about it, what kind of animal do you want?

When you go to take your pick of the litter, consider letting the puppy or kitten choose YOU. Also, which one is not afraid to let you pick it up? Last, you will need to be around a fair amount. If your going to be gone for long periods, you might need to be prepared to get two animals, so they'll have a buddy around. Would you be able to do that?

Good luck! Let us know what you decide!

[kiki1982]

Yes, committing to a pet is not an overnight thing. They live for about 15 years, not accounting for some pedigrees.

We've got three cats. We didn't choose our first two cats (they were the last ones left in the litter, a white girl and a black boy) and then there was our very determined Prunelle who insisted on sitting on my husband's knee during dinner. She was part of a litter of our Emma. We kept her because we thought she was so determined to stay. :lol:

Emma was run over by a car about a month ago, we believe. She didn't come back after we went away for a weekend to get her daughter to another family in Belgium. She was a very daring cat and reportedly was runover on a big traffic junction. According to a neighbour who saw a white cat 'completely flat' (thanks for the tact, woman).
She was 8 and our tom cat Baldrick too. He's still a quiet middle-aged presence in our household. :)
We adopted Emma's remaining little son and called him George after the prince regent because he likes to play with skirts, likes chaos and has got a white wig ;).

Anyway, so much for the obituaries. We've got three and we are on the fourth.
For the first 4 years of their lives, we used to live in apartments and they never went outside. When we moved to Germany, we let them go out. I think Baldrick would miss it if we went to live somewhere closed again. Because he likes being outside. I don't know if Prunelle would cope because she is used to being outside from when she was a baby and spends practically the whole summer outside. Even winter can't deter her. It's quite scary that she stays out in -10 _C.
Cats don't really need to run outside, if they haven't known any better. But you do have to count more food. Our cats supply some of their diet with mice and what-not. The vet wouldn't approve, but can I say 'stop eating mice'?

On dogs:
I personally would not like a dog, but I have some thoughts on that :D.

Be careful with anything terrier-like. Although they are small, they are hunting dogs, so they are determined creatures. If they don't need to run too often, they are still independent.
The fashionable dog these days is a Jack Russel. Although they are cute, they need a lot of running, because they were bred for hunting. They are extremely strong-willed and require a lot of training. If you don't train them and you are saddled with a particularly difficult JR (there are gradations as in humans, of course), then you can end up with one that rules your life: barking whenevr he/she doesn't get any attention, at other dogs, refusing to back down if you don't want to go out etc. Even destroying things. Jealousy of (new) life-partners could also become a problem.

The easiest would be collies, spaniels etc. I believe anyway. Although they do need a work-out because they are hunting dogs too, they were bred to either herd sheep or fetch things you shot. Or like corgies, bred to bite the back-legs of sheep if they don't walk in line. Such dogs are naturally tempered to listen to you and respect you, because they work under guidance. That means, though, that you can't leave them alone.

You could also take a big dog, but then you need a big place to live, because otherwise your dog gets bored. Think about a lion confined in a cage about his size... Not to mention that they need a lot of food.
Reportedly Great Danes are scary to look at, but really nice and friendly animals.

My friend who has had lots of dogs (and well-trained) said that she will never choose a puppy that is the first to walks up to her, because it means the puppy feels too confident, i.e. difficult to train. One that shrinks back in the corner is no good either, because it's not confident. She said, once she has there a few puppies in front of her, she would turn them over on their backs one by one and see which ones fight, which ones pee of fear and which ones just lie and wait. If they fight, too confident and no respect for you. If they pee, no good, because they are too afraid of you to form a good partnership. If they lie and wait, good, because they feel that you are the boss, but still display confidence in themselves, they are waiting for their new boss to guide them.
You could try that.

Good luck with your choice.

[Emil Miller]

Our cats supply some of their diet with mice and what-not. The vet wouldn't approve, but can I say 'stop eating mice'?



Why can't you? I've told my cat repeatedly not to do it, and that goes for chasing butterflies and birds.



Your posts have a funny flavor to them.

J

EDIT: Ah, bergamot. Vous êtes anglais.

Just put it down to too much Armagnac.

[byquist]

Study Rhodesian Ridgeback and Vizla for temperament and devotion. I have a combo, mostly Ridgeback. Great runner, very clean -- never needs a bath unless going into mossy river. Constant shedding though. Total devotion to family and kids. Sweet disposition. Likes other dogs and people and is wary about cats.

[kiki1982]

Why can't you? I've told my cat repeatedly not to do it, and that goes for chasing butterflies and birds.

haha, getting them to eat their mouse outside unasked (also during the night when we are not there) is about as far as we've got. For the rest, we are grateful that moles disappear as quickly as they have cropped up in the garden. Whether vountary or not, I can't say.
Oh, and that they actually eat what they catch.
Anything that comes into the house alive is caught in a wisky bottle box and goes out, alive. That policy came into practice when 4 years ago Baldrick caught a mouse, brought it into our 50m² living room and ran around with it for 4 whole hours. I think it must have sneaked out, because I never saw it again after it went behind the fire place.
The only exception to this and the eating outside policy was Emma teaching her kids to unt and how to kill.

Then again, our cats are from a line of prolific hunters. Our Emma once caught a blackbird on the roof in our city house in Belgium to show her small ones how it was done, catching and eating. I mean, white cat on red roof. The bird must have been a very daft one.
Our friend has more of our line and those get fat on eating their catches alone. Her cat Smirnoff (son of our Emma) caught the rabit of the neighbour's children... :blush:. The neighbour was not amused. When he was six months he caught a crow and ate it. He was double his huge size for three whole days and didn't eat, waddling around :lol:.

They don't catch too many birds anymore. I think since we moved away from a rural area, the birds are not that daft to go and sit on the road, because there is traffic.