Pet Breed? Therapy Minded and Heat Tolerant Suggestions - Page 3

Yeah, very warm and cuddly too, if my latest little ol' aquisition is anything to go by ! (At her age, Sheila does not want to go anywhere or do anything very rapidly or independently. Although she can still 'bounce for joy' a bit when the mood takes her !)

Susie, I would say wanting a dog again as a family member would be true. Denying themselves the opportunity is the real issue.

If certain requisites are satisfied, I think I can facilitate a good match.

GSD is a great breed... for me, too! But if the pet therapy works, a smaller sized pooch that can travel ... first class, lol, would be a plus.

I am still searching and am not in a rush. I do want everything to be right, for this person and the dog, as a forever, together ending.

Maybe beagle is not the right choice, because of the pack nature and voice. Some activity required, isn't necessarily a bad thing. This person was very athletic at one time and could be, again.

Have you thought of a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel? I have an aunt who had one in the '90s, and it was a great dog: quiet, obedient, great with kids, etc. Pretty much the perfect dog! She was a very active person at the time and the dog went everywhere with her.

You mentioned your friend is style conscious, you can't go much more stylish than a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, they were the favored breed of European royalty for close to a century after all! ;)

A co-worker just recently got a Cavalier KC Spaniel, and it is a very nice dog - friendly, not too active, and cuddly. I cannot speak to if the dog barks a lot or not, but it is a very nice pet dog, and a good size, even for air travel.

I have known some yappy Cavaliers, but then I have also known some noisy GSDs; its one of the points I was thinking of when I said go for the individual shelter dog rather than A breed. Some dogs are just noisier than other dogs. Those of us who truly want a dog in our lives will make all sorts of adjustments of our expectations to accomodate a 'fault' in the behaviour of our own dog(s); for those who do not really want to be bothered with keeping a dog, such a fault can become unbearable. Not judging anybody who does not want a dog, that is their right - and it would therefore be sensible if they do not get persuaded into keeping one they do not really fancy having. Most people who WANT to live with dogs get their own, eventually ...

Hundmutter, yes, you are making a judgment. There is no need to second guess my query. I am also well versed in procuring rescue and shelter dogs.

As for the Cavalier suggestion, thank you. I am now reminded of an aquaintence who owned a pair. I didn't really get to know their character very well, but I do recall they were much loved and enjoyable family pets. I also remember some horrible breeding health issues from the Pedigree Dogs Exposed film, so there must be certain lines to research to avoid those!

Does anybody know or have personal experience with the Brittany Spaniel? I met one once back in my dorm college days, and It was a medium small, beautiful, friendly attentive dog. I was fortunate to dog sit with it for a short time.

Sigh...Beetree, what part of "Not judging anybody who does not want a dog, that is their right" constitutes a judgement on my part ?

Both Susie and I have asked if you are SURE that this person would really want you to be suggesting she (?) NEEDS a dog at this time (thus implying whatever reasons she gives that they are "denying themselves an opportunity" are groundless [TO YOU]) - because it honestly does not sound very like it from what you posted - and you haven't really given a straight answer. Which makes me suspicious that you are wanting to TELL her what is good for her, to be blunt about it; so its not about her wants and desires or needs, it would be about you thinking you know best for someone else. Yes, now that IS me making some kind of a judgement - but it is one about YOU, or what I have gathered about you over half a dozen years reading your posts on PDB. And ALL I have been trying to get you to acknowledge is that it should take careful thought before you get this person a dog, because if you talk them into it and they just say Yes to appease YOU, it will probably not work out for either the person or the dog (pedigreed purchase OR rescue), and that would be awful sad.

If I am not expanding on an answer you can be sure I have a good reason. I certainly only have the best interests of the future owner and any future dog companion in the forefront of any consideration or action.

I hope others aren't put off from continuing this pet breed discussion with that in mind.

I know they aren´t that fancy any more, but how about a ( miniature ) poodle ?

They are damn smart, easy to train, don´t shed, normally are not aggressive ...
You have to clip the coat every 6 weeks, otherwise they are fine.
I really like them.

@susie Just a note on the smaller poodle breeds, I think the "doodle" breed explosions have made them somewhat a rare sight these days. I knew a family that had a white standard poodle and it was a real pleasure, and a smart companion, to be sure.

So, the other day I mentioned my pet investigation to the target owners, and they are in agreement that the time for a new pet is a welcome idea.

However, there was a discussion about coat and the desert climate. They made the comment that there seemed to be a vet office in every strip mall. And they seemed to think that was because pet dogs were always getting brambles or barbs removed from them from the cactus or other plants.

So, maybe the idea was, that it would have to be more of a New England pet and an AZ visitor? I would think a poodle coat would be a magnet to the sticky things that are found in the desert? If any desert pet owners have some experience with this type of thing, I would love to hear about it!