I think she's already down with that, she's just one of life's slow-burners, it seems Me, on the other hand... "I'll have a dog when I retire. Oh look, puppies! I'll have one." "Two, you say? Go on then." "My puppies are grown, time for a third to complete the set." "Aw, look, a poor doggy needs a home, let me take her in!" I have a disease.
Haaaa yep know what you mean I had a yorkie before Tess who died a few months ago aged 17 and its a drug having a dog in the house you can't do without one. I have a small house and do a lot of photography so one dog is about all I can manage when I am out and about
Truer words never spoken!!! Murphy loves his treats, no doubt. Try to get him to do anything FOR a treat? Forget it, he develops severe hearing loss and amnesia. What works with him is praise.
I like my daughter's approach: I don't really want kids yet. But I do want a dog. I love dogs. I really want a dog. I can't have a dog because I work all day. But I really want a dog. INSPIRATION!!! If I was to have a baby....then I would have to stop working....then i could be at home all day....and I could HAVE A DOG! Darling...do you think it is time for us to have a family?? It's probably just as well we talked her out of this chain of thought but I swear it was the way she was thinking a few years ago...
Hey, in my own defence, I've never been hit by baby fever but at 26 I got hit by dog fever. Couldn't have a dog in my little apartment so started scheming how to buy myself a house. Within a year and a half (fast for me, lol) I had a house with a fenced garden and a very large puppy. That was 21 years ago and with the exception of the past two years I've never been without at least one dog. So it's really the last bit of time that's been the aberration, not the rule. @Len Smith and Tess, so glad you are here and sharing Tess' photos with us. There is so much personality shining out of those beautiful brown eyes of hers! Almost makes me want to abandon the Lab search and take on a terrier instead. I imagine she keeps you on your toes!
My niece got an eight week old Springer Spaniel puppy four months before she had twins! They all survived, I looked after Bryn while the twins were being born and for a week after that. Tatze was the same age - it was a crazy week! And welcome to you from Mags, Tatze and Keir from Manchester UK Tatze is my pet dog, a black Lab and she's four years old. Tatze means 'paw' in German. Keir is my fifth Guide Dog puppy, a yellow Golden Retriever/Flatcoat cross and he's five months old.
We always had dogs when I was growing up. But I wanted ‘my own’ dog. Mum said I could get a dog when I got my own home. So, I arrived at university, 18 years old, went to Battersea Dog’s Home and chose 6 month old Boogie. He came everywhere with me lectures, pub, home on the train. He lived a wonderful happy, healthy 19 years .
Well my family and I am going back way way when I guess back to my grandfathers day have always had dogs and pets we are potty on them so not having a dog in my and my families life is a big no no. Yep have had labs but my last dog was a yorkie who sadly went over the rainbow bridge about 5 months ago. She was 17 and my vet suggested either a spaniel or Patterdale simply because I am always out and about up in the hills down on the coast in the woods etc etc as I do a lot of photography. And because my house is small. I opted for the patterdale as they are a hardy little dog and will go everywhere and anywhere. And yep they need exercise and plenty of it so not your average once a day round the block walks is not for them. But O the love they give is like no other I have known in any dog I have ever had. My biggest concern right now is getting her recall right as she doestend to zoom off in to the woods as part of her little catch me if you can game O sure she comes back eventually but not after me having several heart attacks in to the bargain wondering where she is. I the garden house she is perfect but out in the wide blue yonder is another matter. I know eventually she will be fine its just getting there.
Yep I was looking for a rescue too but every time I went to the dogs home I got so so upset and for one reason or another came away empty handed. I guess I like to think that my last little girl Cindy Lou guided me to having Tess
@Len Smith , very sorry to hear about your Yorkie. 17 is a rather amazing age but that doesn't make it any easier at all when they go. Your Patterdale girl seems like an excellent choice for your Yorkie's valiant successor. I had the huge pleasure (and sometimes huge frustration) of having a little terrier foster dog (a Bodeguero named Toby) for a couple months this spring. I've always avoided terriers like the plague (with the big exception of my pit bull/cattle dog mix) but developed a new love and respect for the little guys thanks to Toby. Now they are on my "someday" list for sure!
Yep I have that the problem is it says about training with other people and friends in the early stages but living on my own and out in the countryside everything has to be done on my own O sure we have plenty of tourists around and Tess is fab with people other dogs etc but no friends or family to help. Its a dilema
Haaa you won't regeret it. Right now Tess is laying on my shoulder whilst I am trying to type squeeking her toy in my ear. Bliss
Yep have that one and yep it is but as I said somewhere else in the thread all my training has to be done without the help of others
Welcome Tess (and Len!) Tess is lovely! We had a wire-haired patterdale when I was growing up and she was a real character- the only dog in my father's 50 years of dog ownership to make it out of the kennels and get her paws under the kitchen table and onto the sofa.... I don't think she ever became quite what you would call trained but she was fiercely loyal to the family, entirely devoted to my dad and all in all an exceedingly human dog. (Perhaps evidenced by the fact that she ate at least one chocolate biscuit daily, which in retrospect is a bit ) Though I hope you don't have a cat?!
