puppy love

Pig pig????

Are you sure it isn't a guinea pig? My friend who was sitting with me today was saying her dd's guinea pig has gone AWOL!

Gracesmum, that`s why we had our cat from a rescue centre, partly because we wanted to give an unfortunate creature a home, and having a one year old also took care of the house training problem.

I've always had dogs from puppies, as I wanted to see what the parents were like temperament wise, and I like to see them develop as they grow up. I do love greyhounds, though; probably the only breed that I would consider having as an older rescue dog, as I think their beautiful nature is very difficult to change no matter what life throws at them. What does annoy me is when dogs become fashionable and then get bought by unsuitable people who have no knowledge of the breed, their needs and how to bring them up. Years ago Akitas were one such breed, and I never liked them, thinking that they were big and dangerous. But I've got to know someone who wouldn't have any other type of dog and I'm fascinated by what she tells me. She knows the breed inside out and brings out the best in her dogs. It's like they say, there's no such thing as a bad dog, just a bad owner. I detest unscrupulous breeders, and think the Kennel Club should do more to stop them.

I agree 100% crimson with everything you have said,but I have to say that "most" of the dogs mr.glamma and I have fostered over the years have been considered suitable for rehoming after we had looked after them for the required 1month and 1 day period as required under adoption regs.We had by that time assessed their needs and if they where suitable to go to families or just with adults.
As a family we have always had English Bulldogs and Bassett Hounds at one time we had 9 Bassetts it was a surprise delivery as we did not think that Bonnie was able to have pups every one who rang about them had a grilling from me and I did a house check before letting them go to new homes,but I still had one stupid woman call the day after she took her puppy home to ask me to take her back as the pup had cried all night and she couldn't cope,It is very hard to understand some people so puppy came back and now lives with a lovely family 5 mins away from the flat we now live in,so its a small world.

I let one cocker spaniel puppy go to a home that I wasn't happy with; I loved the people on the phone but when they came to collect the puppy I wanted to say no, but it was for their teenage son who had just lost his dog. They told me afterwards that she was snappy, but she would never have been like that.Have never forgiven myself, and I can still see her sitting behind me in the kitched having bought a stone in from the garden to show me and dropping it at my feet. Another time a man bought his wife round to see the puppies, and she just stood looking at them. Had he decided to have one I would have refused. All the others went to wonderful homes.Anyone that can look at a litter of puppies and not want to sit on the floor and let them tumble all over them is not a dog lover. It fascinates me how we 'choose' the breed of dog that is to be ours; I switched from spaniels to whippets, but I melt every time a see a cocker spaniel puppy.

before Rottweilers were popular /got a bad name a parent used to bring one to school everyday when dropping off his daughter. The dog (bitch) Ella was gorgeous and the kids in the class loved her (all aged 3-5 years) and she was very gentle. During this time the first high profile case of a Rottweiler mauling a child was in the paper and we had toban Ella from the school premises. Owner was very sad and angry..he loved Rottweilers and bred from Ella. He built a clause into his sales contract that anyone buying a puppy had to register with the Rottweiler club/ association and take dogs to be trained. He would not sell as a guard dog. Have since met v scary Rotties

We breed Jack Russell terriers but one of the best dogs I have ever had was a rescued collie. She was such a faithful companion I felt she was thanking me every day of her life.
Our cat is from the Cat's Protection League and as we have a two acre small holding she acts like she's in cat heaven. We used to have a serious problem with rabbits.....not any more!!

Aren't there different strains of Rottweilers and people were breeding from those used as police dogs? Dobermanns are lovely, too. I suppose the problem is that you've got a dog much stronger and more powerful than it's owner but, a bit like riding a horse, you have to bring it up to think that you are stronger. With Akitas it's all supposed to be about eye contact.