Dog Owner Chat! (for-fun poll added) (new chat)

[Jazi]

Oh god in high school I was just plain awful Dx

I wanted a male black oversized GSD and an all black male oversized doberman. I wanted to breed the biggest and darkest doberman I could possibly breed and then win all the AKC shows and really "show" those "snobby show breeders" that dobes even in non-standard colors and sizes were still awesome. It was all how you raise them, I would keep repeating to myself. My doberman would be "good dogs" and have not one aggressive bone in their body. I had a breeder lined up and everything- said breeder appeared great on the surface but when you looked further you would see the bad. Like you guys, on a game that I played I found a dog owner thread and I started making these posts on it. And, like you guys, the good people there called me out on it and smacked some good sense into me.

I was pretty mad at the time. How dare they tell me my ideals were not only poorly researched, but very damaging to how the public perceived dogs as a whole. I stopped going there for a little while.

A couple years later and what they said still bothered me, so I did my own research, trusting professionals instead of biased websites for or against the breed. And you know? They were right. Everything they said was right. And then I graduated and became an adult. I still wanted a dobe though, so I joined my doberman forum, where they are all about education and not about covering up the bad in the breed (like a few other not so great dobe forums). And I learned and learned and learned and learned... and now I have mentors, people dedicated to teaching me everything they know, going out of their way for it. I have a couple lunch dates this summer hopefully with breeders that KNOW I'm not interested in their dogs, just so that they can teach me more about the breed. There are dates marked on my calendar to go to shows and trials to be taught how to handle their dogs. I even have that job offer in TN, solely because of all of this research and hands-on experience that I've gained.

As I grew and learned, my views on things changed. I have that forum to thank for getting the ball rolling. If I can do that for someone here, then I consider everything worth it.

[Lupen]

Oh god, don't even make me relive what I was like before. I could have been worse I suppose, but I could have been far better as well. I was naturally clueless when I got my first dogs as I was so young. Nine, in fact; my two BYB goldens, Lacey and Lucky. And I can't really speak for my mom. Like most kids I just wanted puppies. Puppies to me were just so cute and fun. I didn't know enough to care about the work, or where they came from.

But even after I got Rylee, which was only four years ago, I did plenty wrong. I at least knew then not to buy from BYBs. I learned that the hard way when one of those goldens died at five, and I started to look into breeding practices. However, I still fed the wrong things. Was lazy with socialization and training. Even though I didn't use it, I thought the alpha theory was a completely viable training technique and watched Caesar Millan >.> And this time, there is no excuse for any of it - I should have researched far more than I did before I adopted her. Unlike before, age isn't an excuse.

I think it was when Rylee was about a year/year and a half, when I finally started researching in depth. That's when I started teaching her all of her tricks. I researched food. Training. Socialization. I looked more into breeding. And over the past three or so years I have learned more than I had my entire life. Now, with a fresh plate so to speak - with Koda coming into my life... I'm trying my best to do right this time.

As soon as we got him we socialized him. With family, different objects (like the dremel or tub - even though he still hates baths), we carried him into pet stores. Once he got his parvo shots it was time for him to walk on leash into town. We walked around the beach and parks, past the various stores, into pet stores... We came across trains, bikes, kids, men, women, small dogs, large dogs, skateboards, strollers... You name it. We took him in the car (and still do) every time we were able to take him with us. I taught him the basics - bite inhibition, sit, stay, lay down - right off the bat. With a puppy that loves following you, stay was a pain. But we managed.

Potty training with him was a breeze. No pee pads this time - I took him out regularly.

It all paid off big time. I can't even tell you how much I regret not doing all of this ASAP when we adopted Rylee. I doubt it would have eliminated it completely - but how much would it have helped with her fear aggression if we socialized this extensively early on? She was always a shy and fearful pup from the time we got her, but I know I could've done more. Shes a great dog though, really. I just have to take precautions sometimes. Luckily with her she doesn't react if people just walk by her, only if they approach or pay any mind to her.

Obviously, I still have a lot to learn. I don't know nearly as much as some of you guys do on plenty of subjects. But at least I'm willing to learn. To admit that I don't know everything and accept when I'm wrong, as long as proof is shown. I'm not going to get angry or remain closed minded when I am proven wrong. And this is how I learn. How I have learned everything thus far. And my dogs are better off because of it.

[Keletheryl]

When I was younger I wanted a Pomeranian and a chihuahua... Never again.
Then I went through a bunch of big dogs I wanted.

Now, if I could choose any dog, I would get a Shetland sheepdog, a bulldog, a husky, or a chihuahua.
My sister has a chihuahua and they aren't as bad as one would think! And not all chihuahua owners keep them because they are considered "floof purse dogs".

[Joe Kerr]

Oh goodness. When I was younger,
I bought a Husky from a horrid breeder.
No mom or dad on site, the pups were
terrified of us, except for the one we ended
up choosing; Bo. Bo died at 7 1/2 from what
we can only guess as heart failure. After that,
I started looking into breeders in general, and
decided I was more of a 'rescue' type. Of course
I'm alright with breeders who love, care and treat
their dogs good. The ones who breed not for money
but for the preservation of the breed. And especially
the ones who do a complete health check on both
parents before breeding them. <3 Those are
alright in my book. Dog shows, however, bother me.
I don't know why, they just do.

I'm not going to buy a dog from a breeder again.
Just rescue dogs for me.

When I was very young, I wanted to breed all white,
also known as 'lethal white' Australian Shepherds. I
thought they were gorgeous! Now, I know how dangerous
it is. I also don't agree with any unlicensed breeding.
Thank goodness I got some sense knocked into me by my
rough around the edges best friend, or I might still want
to breed Aussies!
<3

I still don't know a huge amount about specific dog breeds,
I know much more about animal rescues/rescuing.
<3

[Keletheryl]

Oh goodness. When I was younger,
I bought a Husky from a horrid breeder.
No mom or dad on site, the pups were
terrified of us, except for the one we ended
up choosing; Bo. Bo died at 7 1/2 from what
we can only guess as heart failure. After that,
I started looking into breeders in general, and
decided I was more of a 'rescue' type. Of course
I'm alright with breeders who love, care and treat
their dogs good. The ones who breed not for money
but for the preservation of the breed. And especially
the ones who do a complete health check on both
parents before breeding them. <3 Those are
alright in my book. Dog shows, however, bother me.
I don't know why, they just do.

I'm not going to buy a dog from a breeder again.
Just rescue dogs for me.

When I was very young, I wanted to breed all white,
also known as 'lethal white' Australian Shepherds. I
thought they were gorgeous! Now, I know how dangerous
it is. I also don't agree with any unlicensed breeding.
Thank goodness I got some sense knocked into me by my
rough around the edges best friend, or I might still want
to breed Aussies!
<3

I still don't know a huge amount about specific dog breeds,
I know much more about animal rescues/rescuing.
<3

I've always wanted to develop a breed of fluffy, spotted dogs. I even have the two breeds picked out, American Eskimo and Dalmatian, the Dalmatian being male because the male gene is (usually) stronger than the female gene.
But Dalmatians have a lot of problems with breeding as it is, so it would be rather tough to do that
Not to mention I am no where near able to breed dogs. I don't know enough about genetics or anything.
I'd probably need a degree in a specific science to be able to do that :p

[Joe Kerr]

I must say, that would be an adorable dog.

I have a question for all you
genetic junkies <3

If you could breed any two dogs,
without the consequence of breeding
two incompatible colours, what two
dogs would you choose?

{example;
breeding two merles
together, without having
to worry about producing
double merle pups}

[Cardinal]

I must say, that would be an adorable dog.

I have a question for all you
genetic junkies <3

If you could breed any two dogs,
without the consequence of breeding
two incompatible colours, what two
dogs would you choose?

{example;
breeding two merles
together, without having
to worry about producing
double merle pups}

Mm, two black and tan performance Doberman. Yum~



@Above: Its highly unlike you're end up with spotted dogs. American Eskimo are genetically red dogs with a modifier dilution type gene making them white or cream. Dalmatians are extreme white with ticking. The spotting is caused by a recessive modifier gene. Dalamtion spots are unique to the breed, Dal mixes are ticked, not spotted because of this (deafness is alos linked to Dal genes). Coat wise you'd probably end up with red or black ticked dogs. xD

Aren't genetics awesome?

[Joe Kerr]

I must say, that would be an adorable dog.

I have a question for all you
genetic junkies <3

If you could breed any two dogs,
without the consequence of breeding
two incompatible colours, what two
dogs would you choose?

{example;
breeding two merles
together, without having
to worry about producing
double merle pups}

Mm, two black and tan performance Doberman. Yum~

Out of curiosity, because I know
absolutely nothing about
dog breeding/genetics;

What happens if you breed those
two dogs together?

[Cardinal]

I must say, that would be an adorable dog.

I have a question for all you
genetic junkies <3

If you could breed any two dogs,
without the consequence of breeding
two incompatible colours, what two
dogs would you choose?

{example;
breeding two merles
together, without having
to worry about producing
double merle pups}

Mm, two black and tan performance Doberman. Yum~

Out of curiosity, because I know
absolutely nothing about
dog breeding/genetics;

What happens if you breed those
two dogs together?

Lmao, well, if they are genetically black and tan you get more black and tan! Tan points are rescessive, both parents have to be carriers. Black is normally a dominate gene.. So black and tan Doberman. Now if you bred a black and tan pointed Doberman to, say a plain old black dog.. All the puppies would be black, no tan points since tan points are resscive.

In doberman theres also red, fawn, and blue. Fawn and blue are dillutions of red and black. Doberman gnetics are suepr easy, generally.

[Joe Kerr]

I should learn more about
this stuff... It's so interesting! <3

Dobermans are absolutely
gorgeous. <3