yeah - check and see how your cat responds. If it's freaking out, you definitely need a more laid back dog that doesn't have any kind of dominant personality. MY dog is just a hard headed asshole when it comes to the damn cat.
I had a Newf when I was a kid. They are very relaxed and gentle, but still very powerful dogs. I think she broke every chain under 3/8th we ever tried with her. I was seven when we got her and didn't outweigh her until I was a eighteen. They are a friend to everyone until given a reason not to, yet they are extremely protective. Whenever someone came over that she didn't know she would physically push you to keep herself between you and that person. They adore small kids, but with their size they can accidentally knock small children over. Still, I would trust the dog over most adults to watch a child. Ours was also a very light eater. She never wolfed any food...you could shove a piece of meat with your hand in her mouth and she wouldn't bite down until you removed your hand. Even then she would eat it very gently. She was also very quiet. If she started barking something was going on and you should investigate. Her size alone was a great deterrent for door-to-door salesmen, Jehovah Witnesses, etc. Rarely would any leave their car with her eye to eye with them through the window. If they only knew the only danger they faced was drool. Immediately walk out on any breeder who tells you they breed dry mouth dogs...that's a myth. Keep a few old towels handy. Their coat has an oily feel to it and every spring when they blow the undercoat you will find clumps of it everywhere no matter how much you brush them. You will not keep a Newf out of any body of water...the breed has to swim as much as they need to breath. With or without training they will rescue swimmers. Even those in no need of rescue. Having another Newf is probably the biggest reason driving my desire to move into a house. If I didn't currently live in a highrise that doesn't allow dogs, I'd have one.
I dog sit this fella for 2 months every year. He's 7lbs and as big as he'll get. Well trained, but lazy. Doesn't help that he's adorable. He also thinks he's a lion who's not to be fucked with. His owners named him Dioji. Pronounced DEE-OH-GEE. That's right, they named their dog Dog. Don't get me started.
Looks like my parents may be adopting a senior dog as a companion for our other dog, Rudy. Apparently the dog's name is Chico and is 10. He was dropped off at a kill shelter by a family who decided they no longer wanted a senior dog and literally gave him up to be killed, hard to believe. If things work out, my parents will have the two senior dogs. It seems like its a win. The other dog Rudy has been pretty lonely since our other dog passed away three years ago.
I have a real soft spot for old dogs, I literally can't understand how someone would do this. It must be an expense thing right? Or do people just really dislike old dogs?
I know if have said this in the past on here, but I am not looking forward to the day we have to put down our dog. Our 14 month old daughter is already best friends with our dog, they play great together. One of her favourite activities is playing on the fluffy dog bed.
My Dad is trying to keep my cat. When I left for Afghanistan, I left my two cats in his care, so that I could get them back when I got home. One of them got cancer and died really quickly. He's trying to keep the other one.
That's bullshit. He's trying to make you think that this is about the cat's feelings. It is about his feelings. Not that his feelings should be discounted - if he and others have really bonded to the cat and it would hurt them to give the cat up, there's nothing wrong with that. But he should be honest about it. I'm sorry you are dealing with this.
As a side note to that, he has not had the cat twice as long as I did. Roughly the same amount of time.
To callback to a WDT, this is why rescue's are so over the top nutty in their interviews. Way too many people swap out living creatures like they are fashion accessory that went out of style.
<a class="postlink" href="http://www.buzzfeed.com/alanwhite/remember-the-dog-whose-last-day-on-earth-broke-your-heart-yo" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">http://www.buzzfeed.com/alanwhite/remem ... r-heart-yo</a> There ^ is the backstory to the tear-jerker video I posted last week.
I have a cat-- they don't HAVE feelings. They love their owners but they also kill at will and can hold a lifetime grudge against you for the weirdest things. In short, his dad is being a lying prick-- tell him to go fuck himself and if he wants a cat go rescue one, I'm sure THEIR feelings are much more hurt than one that already has a rightful home. If you had a child that stayed with your dad would he have kept him/her too?
I don't understand how a family can just drop off a dog like they're getting rid of an old couch. Look at his face, how the fuck is that possible? If I would've had to give up my dog at any point in his life I would've been heartbroken.
This a million times over and if you disagree, shame on you. You don't deserve to have a dog in the first place.
So my parents picked up Chico, here he is laying by my dads feet. Spoiler Hopefully he gets along with this experienced gentlemen. So far I can tell my dad is falling hard for Chico, he seems really sweet and mellow. Spoiler
Picked up a new pup today. He flew in from Georgia to our local airport. Really happy with his personality so far. He would follow us around the kitchen and curl up at our feet while we were cooking this afternoon. While we were eating, I put him in the kennel and he whined, but it wasn't a constant thing. Hopefully this translates into easy kennel training, but only time will tell. Boykin Spaniels are special little brown dogs.