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Help! First time potential dog owner, but I'm not ready.

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  1. #21

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    I think this thread is useless without pics. Here's the in-laws' late boxer:

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  2. #22

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    There is also something else OP. Besides the allergic issue, there is also the question of the dog temper and heath. Some breeds are prone to certain to health issues or have more health problems than other breeds. Likewise, different breeds have different temperament.

    Some breeds have more easy going and obedient temperament, making them easier to train as a first-time dog owner. Other breeds may be more stubborn and less obedient and you will have a harder time training the dog. Never buy a dog on looks alone. Always assess whether the potential dog matches your ability to properly train and care for the dog.

    Last edited by Watercooler; 20-09-2013 at 10:08 PM.
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  3. #23

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    Hi,

    You should give the SPCA Foster Programme a call: 2232 5524 (leave a message and they will call you back). I've fostered kittens through their programme twice now and I absolutely love it. You can explain your circumstances to them and see if they have a suitable dog for your situation. They do a wonderful job and really help foster parents. You will always be able to return the animal anytime there are problems and they are very supportive. Alternatively, you could ask if there is anyone that is fostering a hypo-allergenic dog that you could get in contact with and visit. That way you could maybe get to know the dog in a home environment.

    I'm very pro-pet, and I grew up with dogs and cats. Like some others said, I also had a strong bond with them, and sometimes when you go through the ups and downs of growing up, its the family pet that gets you through, as they are the kindest most loving thing you know in the world. I grew very close to them as I got older, and the highlight of my days in high school was taking the two bassets to the park and running along the river with them.

    It may be true that you will be left to care for it in 8 or so years. This happened to my parents and the cat that I got in high school. But I think these pets (the 2 dogs and cats) were very important to my parents once my brother and I left home. I know the dogs in particular were very special to my mom, and I remember how upset she was the month they both died (2nd most upset time I had ever seen her in my life). My father, too, has even commented recently how sad he was to lose the cat I had left at home when I went to college.

    If your kids were to volunteer at a shelter, it's not quite the same. When fostering kittens, they are at first strangers, and then over a few weeks, I really grow to love them and cherish every bit of them! It's this special bond that a pet gives you that's so valuable!

    I hope you'll give your kids a chance to open their hearts and love and care for something special!

    PS -- There is this very cute dog at the SPCA that's been there for a couple of months already: http://www.spca.org.hk/eng/adopt/hom...?number=313737. She's even cuter in person than in the picture.


  4. #24

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    dog

    Agree with the other posters that volunteering for an extended period would be a good way of helping your kids figure out if they're up for the full commitment. And kudos to you for thinking this through so thoughtfully.

    You may wish to ask your kids to come up with their plan for the care and expenses of a dog, by themselves (don't prompt them on what the issues are!). It'll be a good way for you to assess their real commitment, and for them to figure out the real responsibilities.

    Other questions your kids should be asking apart from who takes it for walkies. "Which one of us":
    - cleans up the dog's messes - poop, pee, vomit?
    - grooms the dog and ensures it is flea, tick, worm and parasite free? (I.e. checking for them regularly and thoroughly and makes it stays in a healthy state). Have they ever picked ticks off any animals before? Do they know how to do this safely?
    - pocket money pays for food, dog shampoo, de-flea/louse/tick stuff, insurance, general equipment (leash, collars etc), medical procedures (e.g. spaying) medication, inoculations, vet bills? If pocket money not enough, have they figured out a way to earn extra income?
    -have they drawn up a budget for vet bills and other major costs, (plus reserve fund in case of serious illness) and started saving towards that yet?
    - trains the dog? Has whoever's taking on that responsibility set aside time every day for at least 3 months? Re-scheduled homework and after school activities to make sure they can do so adequately while staying on top of daily activities? Have they figured out the best way of training a dog/puppy and started learning how to do so? Figured out the key things the dog needs to be trained on, and timetable for doing so?
    - gives up vacation time outside the home for 2 weeks or more needed to settle the dog into its new home? Have they thought out the timing of bringing the dog home so that they have lots of time to settle it in without having to go to school etc?
    - 3 walks a day - timing. Who gets up early to make sure the dog is walked before school so it can empty its bladder after the long night? After school activities - will they get home in time to take it for a walk mid afternoon? If the weather is really bad (e.g. typhoon) have they figured out where it'll pee/poop and which one of them cleans that area up?
    - when the dog gets sick, have they worked out a schedule about how to split caring/nursing timetable between them?
    - who physically takes the dog to the vet? How are they going to get it there? (Have they found out where the vet is?!)

    I'm sure there are lots more. These are just the issues I figured out by myself to convince my mom to let me have a dog (I was 8 and had lobbied her since I knew what a pet was :-)). My mom hates animals, so I knew I was responsible for keeping the dog alive, healthy, happy and well adjusted to humans around it. And that if I couldn't handle things well, the dog would go to a better home. Clearly an 8 year old can't finance vet bills all by herself, or do 24-hour feeding cycles in case of sickness, so I did get help, but only after I'd exhausted my own resources. Since your kids are older than I was, and they've got each other as back up, they should be able to figure out a lot of this on their own. (My dog lived for 10 years, in case you're wondering how things worked out! :-))

    As a dog lover, I'm really glad you're being careful about this whole issue!

    Last edited by z754103; 21-09-2013 at 12:07 AM.

  5. #25

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    Quote Originally Posted by Elegiaque:
    Hi,

    It may be true that you will be left to care for it in 8 or so years. This happened to my parents and the cat that I got in high school. But I think these pets (the 2 dogs and cats) were very important to my parents once my brother and I left home. I know the dogs in particular were very special to my mom, and I remember how upset she was the month they both died
    It's almost guaranteed. This happens a lot and I agree with you parents (animal loving ones mostly) like still having the pets if they can manage. In this case Im not so certain of it. I know what hyper allergic is its not nice, and no dog is truly free from causing them an attack.

    When I went off to Uni I left three dogs and two horses. The dogs my dogs in particular were dotted on and lived to a great age except one a lurcher who got bitten by a snake. Sadly I didn't see much of them as I got a placing in the UK to study. The horses continued to be ridden by my mum and sister then by the niece until enjoying early retirement where they became a charming fat cheeky menace at pasture. Its funny every time I phoned this is mostly all we spoke about what the animals were getting up to. They took the place of us kids. It wasn't hello sweetie how are you, it was hello I was just thinking of you, this minute, yes because the dogs brought home a rabbit....all about the animals by the time it got to me I was broke from the cost of the phone call. Almost like if the animals are doing well then so must you be dear.

  6. #26

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    Hmm thats doted (:


  7. #27

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    I love our "baby" - he's been part of the family for 8 years but there are so many things even way back when we first fell in love with him we didn't consider...living in a high rise, not being able to go away at the drop of a hat, needing to get home to walk/feed/ nurture him and then when you go on holiday the cost of dog hotels or home boarding and the stress of worrying that he is ok.

    Your helper may accept your dog, but the dog will need love and I don't always see this with the helpers when they "walk" people's dogs.

    We walk our baby 3 times a day approx. 2 hrs in total. If you do decided to get a dog PLEASE socialise it so it doesn't become frustrated, yappy and unfriendly. We know the names of many of the dogs in our tower (tho not their owners!) and it is has been a fantastic way into the community.

    All said I concur completely with the suggestions to volunteer at the shelters - that's next on my list when I get some spare time!

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  8. #28

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    Another problem I find here is that the OP wants to foster a rescue dog to test various things, they then want to go out and get a Bischon frisse because the ten year old daughter wants one if it all works out with the fostering exercise.

    I don't think thats fair on the foster though maybe foster homes are in such short supply they don't mind people returning foster dogs every few days to test another one. I wouldn't like that for a dog myself. But the fact that they then want to get a pedigree dog and not foster a foster is rather odd ball too. I've never seen a Bischon in rescue, just poodles of all description.

    Any way sadly research now points to the fact that no dog breed is free from causing hypoallergenic attacks in sufferers and that so called hypoallergenic dog breeds can cause just as many attacks as non hypoallergenic "breeds". This is because it's not specifically dog/cat hair or hair dust etc because the allergens are found in the very saliva and skin proteins of dogs/cats too. So when fluffy scratches itself or licks us or even drools a little for dinner there is going to be some serious wheezing.

    So there are either a lot of satisfied hypochondriacs out there with a pooch or they aren't quite as hypo as they've been diagnosed to be?


  9. #29

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    pricing scams

    Quote Originally Posted by knk:
    We know the names of many of the dogs in our tower (tho not their owners!)
    (: or ): but mostly just (:

    I agree with everything you said. It's certainly not a completely stress free exercise, though as you say the pleasure outweighs the stress IF you're a dedicated dog lover. Hopefully for both dog and owner.

    In my opinion another reason why there are so many abandoned neglected dogs in Hong Kong is that vets over charge for absolutely everything. Many many many dogs you see available at rescue organisations have some sort of medical problems mainly but not only the pedigree ones. Not exactly how many expats think granted but when the price of a dogs is 2ooo dollars and they are faced with a possible bill for 5ooo dollars from the vet there is a tendency here to think Wha! Just get a new one save 3ooo dollar.

    Expats themselves more often than not also find themselves the butt of double pricing scams here in HK. A flea collar can cost half the price or twice the price at the same clinic depending on who you are. The same for plumbers, dentists electricians, doctors just about anything that doesn't actually have a price tag on it, pure services or not.
    Last edited by Koen; 23-09-2013 at 10:25 AM.

  10. #30

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    It always surprises me how many people living in tower blocks and/or properties without gardens have dogs in HK. It's clear how much some people on this thread (such as knk above) love their dog(s) but personally, I wouldn't feel comfortable having a dog without a garden for them to use. Regular walks aren't really an adequate replacement (in my opinion). I appreciate that this comment may upset some people so I apologise in advance. It's not meant as personal criticism (although I guess ultimately it is!)

    I grew up with dogs and our back door was nearly always open so the dogs could come and go into the (secured) garden as they pleased. They LOVED being outside. For some of them, only rain or food could get them in the house lol. Having experienced years of this, there's no way I could keep a dog in a flat (or house) that didn't have access to a garden. I just think it's unfair on the dog. For the last decade I've lived in properties which are unsuitable (in my opinion) for a dog therefore I do without. I miss dogs terribly but it's the sacrifice I make because I choose to live where I do. It would be selfish of me to have a dog when I live in a 2 bed flat on the 13th floor!. Ultimately I plan to move back to the UK/France and buy a property with a garden and then I can have dogs again :-) Until then, my animal companion is a (rescue) dwarf hamster.