100% Wolf

[Hauldren Collider]

No, it doesn't have to be purebred. I don't know that much about dog breeds. It's several years before I could potentially get a dog, obviously I plan to do more research then.

Adoption seems like a good idea. It baffles me that so many dogs end up in shelters. It also makes me wonder why people ever bother to buy from a pet store, when there's way more than enough in shelters.

[Elok]

Mixed breeds tend to be a little healthier due to their more diverse genetic heritage.

[MRT144]

Man, beagles are cool. But im gonna get a corgi if my wife and I get a dog. We have a wonderful cat right now.

[Guynemer]

****ing love corgis. Had a mix when I was a kid, got another one during college/med school, had to give 'em up when I moved for residency. Still kills me.

Great ****ing dogs.

[Dinner]

"The dog is a gentleman; I hope to go to his heaven, not man's." - Mark Twain, in a letter to W.D. Howells

[Provost Harrison]

Bolt through the skull and off to the Korean restaurant. The punishment for attacking their human overlords should be brutal.

[Boris Godunov]

Yeah keep blaming everyone but the animal

Er, so you think dogs are capable of rational decision-making?

[Al B. Sure!]

Er, so you think dogs are capable of rational decision-making?

No. And that's the ****ing problem!

We have these ANIMALS around us with sharp teeth, roaming around without leashes and owners.

[Boris Godunov]

That still doesn't make it sensible to "blame" the animals. They act on instinct, and as many have noted, it's entirely foreseeable by PEOPLE that a dog in this situation might act this way. Since we're the ones who have the ability to engage in rational thinking, that means the blame is still squarely on us for incidents like this.

[Al B. Sure!]

That still doesn't make it sensible to "blame" the animals. They act on instinct, and as many have noted, it's entirely foreseeable by PEOPLE that a dog in this situation might act this way. Since we're the ones who have the ability to engage in rational thinking, that means the blame is still squarely on us for incidents like this.

But that means we shouldn't be exposing other humans to these threats...

[Boris Godunov]

But that means we shouldn't be exposing other humans to these threats...

Right, which means keeping dogs on leashes and warning stupid dumbasses like this anchor not to stick her face in the dog's because he might very well feel threatened and bite her. The dog owner failed miserably at his responsibility here.

[gribbler]

Nope, the anchor failed miserably in her responsibility to not be a stupid dumbass. Unless you think she couldn't think rationally?

[Al B. Sure!]

Right, which means keeping dogs on leashes and warning stupid dumbasses like this anchor not to stick her face in the dog's because he might very well feel threatened and bite her. The dog owner failed miserably at his responsibility here.

Which also means not letting your dogs wander around by themselves to chase down passing runners.

[Hauldren Collider]

Can we turn this thread into a discussion about dog breeds? I would be much more interested in a) learning more about caring for pet dogs, as this will at some point in the future be very practical information for me and b) seeing pictures of cute dogs, because everyone loves those.

[Al B. Sure!]

nm

[gribbler]

You on that estrogen therapy, bro?

You hate cute things? Gee, I'm sure you'd be a wonderful father. I can't understand why the ladies aren't banging down your door.

[Elok]

Like I said earlier, purebreds are generally less healthy than mixed-breeds/mutts, because purebred generally means inbred. Most advice about taking care of a dog will vary depending on the breed. What kind of dog are you interested in? Big? Small? Long-hair? Short-hair? Hound, terrier, working, herding, sporting? If you're interested in the toy dogs, I consider it cruelty to animals to breed such creatures, and will not advise you on their care or acquisition in any way.

By the by, Lima is absolutely awash in stray dogs, and I have never been menaced by one in any way. I surmise that Al's problem is Philly dog owners.

[gribbler]

Dogs like to chase things, and Al is a wuss who's scared of them.

[Hauldren Collider]

Like I said earlier, purebreds are generally less healthy than mixed-breeds/mutts, because purebred generally means inbred. Most advice about taking care of a dog will vary depending on the breed. What kind of dog are you interested in? Big? Small? Long-hair? Short-hair? Hound, terrier, working, herding, sporting? If you're interested in the toy dogs, I consider it cruelty to animals to breed such creatures, and will not advise you on their care or acquisition in any way.

By the by, Lima is absolutely awash in stray dogs, and I have never been menaced by one in any way. I surmise that Al's problem is Philly dog owners.

I'd like a dog that's generally friendly to everyone, and not super high maintenance. I wouldn't mind having to walk the dog but it would have to be able to live in an apartment and not go insane. Golden retrievers seem good. Super small dogs are a no, so we agree there. I'm not at all interested in a dog that is a guard dog or anything. In fact, that's probably suboptimal because I'd prefer it not to bark much and to be friendly with strangers.

[Al B. Sure!]

Dogs like to chase things, and Al is a wuss who's scared of them.

A wuss because I've had two pit bulls chase me, baring their teeth? A wuss because I've had other large dogs chase me?

[Elok]

Have you considered a retired greyhound? Despite being bred for running, I hear they're actually profoundly lazy dogs who will gladly lie around all day. Short-haired, too. Goldens are nice dogs all-around, though they can be somewhat high-energy. I don't know if they share the "chew on EVERYTHING" urge labs have.

Generally the hassle factor of a dog is the result of three factors:

1. Exercise needs
2. Coat type
3. Intelligence

If you're feeling lazy, you want a short-haired dog that doesn't need much exercise and isn't a genius. Smart dogs need a fair amount of stimulation or they tend to get into mischief. Especially border collies. Smartest dogs on earth, but they need tons of exercise and a job to do or they'll wreck the house.

EDIT: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greyhou...hounds_as_pets

[gribbler]

A wuss because I've had two pit bulls chase me, baring their teeth? A wuss because I've had other large dogs chase me?

Maybe they could smell you peeing your pants?

[Hauldren Collider]

Have you considered a retired greyhound? Despite being bred for running, I hear they're actually profoundly lazy dogs who will gladly lie around all day. Short-haired, too. Goldens are nice dogs all-around, though they can be somewhat high-energy. I don't know if they share the "chew on EVERYTHING" urge labs have.

Generally the hassle factor of a dog is the result of three factors:

1. Exercise needs
2. Coat type
3. Intelligence

If you're feeling lazy, you want a short-haired dog that doesn't need much exercise and isn't a genius. Smart dogs need a fair amount of stimulation or they tend to get into mischief. Especially border collies. Smartest dogs on earth, but they need tons of exercise and a job to do or they'll wreck the house.

EDIT: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greyhou...hounds_as_pets

See, what you're saying makes sense, but greyhounds aren't, well, cute. And that's actually kinda important. Don't judge me.

[Al B. Sure!]

Maybe they could smell you peeing your pants?

I didn't pee my pants. What the **** are you talking about?

[Elok]

Would handsome do, or does it need to be "cute"?

I'm thinking some type of hound. Basset hound? They're pretty damned adorable. They can be somewhat noisy (they "talk"), but they're not hyper. Wait, Wiki says they hate to be left alone, might not be good for apartments unless you have roomies.

[Elok]

My wife remarks that you're better off getting a cat if you're going to be keeping it in an apartment. She's got a point, unless you have something against kitties.

[Boris Godunov]

Which also means not letting your dogs wander around by themselves to chase down passing runners.

Which would be the law in most civilized places, yes. They're called leash laws.

[Boris Godunov]

Nope, the anchor failed miserably in her responsibility to not be a stupid dumbass. Unless you think she couldn't think rationally?

The dog owner is just as much to blame, if not more so. Dog owners have a responsibility to inform others who they don't know about potential biting in such situations. While it's common sense to anyone who is familiar with dogs that you don't get in their face like this if they don't know you, someone who isn't familiar with dogs wouldn't necessarily have any idea, as dumb as that is.

[Al B. Sure!]

Which would be the law in most civilized places, yes. They're called leash laws.

The law on the Philadelphia books:

§10-104. Animals Running at Large and Vicious Animals. [5]


(1) No person shall permit any animal other than a cat to go at large upon any street, public place or private property other than the property of the owner of the animal. All animals using any street, public place or private property of anyone other than the owner of the animal shall be on a leash not exceeding six (6) feet in length including the handgrip but excluding the collar and accompanied by a person able to fully control the animal at all times.

Horses shall be exempt from the provision requiring a leash but shall under this Section require proper rein and bit or halter and lead shank.

Any animal running at large in violation of this ordinance shall be seized by any animal control officer or police officer and delivered to an appropriate area of confinement approved by the Department of Public Health.

(2) Any animal which is vicious may be seized by any police officer or any authorized animal control officer and may be humanely destroyed at the discretion of the Department of Public Health after a reasonable effort[6] has been made to notify the owner.

What about enforcement?

[Barnabas]

I have had dogs who completely obeyed me and I would walk them without leash, I would only agree with such a law for dogs over 20 kilos of weight. This dog is always on the street one block from my house, it is a "neighbourhood" dog

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