From: schlumpf@uimrl7.mrl.uiuc.edu ()
Subject: Re: Opinions on breed.
Reply-To: schlumpf@uimrl7.mrl.uiuc.edu ()
Organization: Materials Research Lab
Date: Thu, 17 Dec 1992 23:30:04 GMT

In article <kathy_buetow-171292153905@physio103-1.life.uiuc.edu>,
kathy_buetow@QMS1.life.uiuc.edu (Kathy Buetow) writes:
es: 81
|>
|>In article <168C0CDCC.CBARNES@tamvm1.tamu.edu>,
|>CBARNES@tamvm1.tamu.edu
|>(Chris Barnes) wrote:
|>> >	2.  Adaptable to both life with a yard and life in an apartment.
|>> >	    ( I have crate trained a dog before and am comfortable with
|>it)
|>>  
|>> >	3.  A good hunter of upland game. (Pheasant, Grouse)
|>> >	4.  Between 65lbs and 100 lbs.
|>>  
|>> Item #2 is incompatible with #3 and #4.  #3 because a good hunter
|>will
|>> require lots of excersise - and that means more than just a walk
|>after
|>> you get home from work.  Staying in an apartment/crate all day will
|>not
|>> give the dog the excersise it would need (even for small hunting
|>dogs).
|>> #4 is incompatible simply because I would consider it cruel to keep
|>a
|>> large dog in an apartment all day (actually, I wouldn't sell ANY
|>breed
|>> of dog to someone that lived in an apartment).
|>>  
|>> .soapbox off

|>Just because someone is limited to apartment living (for whatever 
|>reason) does not mean that their dogs exercise needs will not be taken 
|>care of.   My living situation has become a kind of joke to my "doggie 
|>friends".....they call my kids "The Condo Cattle Dogs".  I was recently 
|>visited by a well-known ACD (And Sheltie) Breeder-Judge who 
|>"*couldn't believe* that I really lived in a second floor condo" (she 
|>had assumed it really was a joke). She complimented me on my ability 
|>to make the best of my situation and added that she would never have 
|>believed it if she hadn't seen it herself !!  No, I myself am not one who 
|>is a "fitness nut".......far from it !!! (Alright Kay, stop that snickering
>  
|>>       -----------------------------------------------------
|>> Chris Barnes            |   President - Bryan/College Station
|>> cbarnes@tamvm1.tamu.edu |         Retriever Club.
|>> (409) 846-3273 (home)   |   "Dedicated to the betterment of
|>> (409) 845-4437 (work)   |               the retrieving breeds"
|>
|>Again, Happy Holidays Everybody !!
|>Kathy
|>======================
|>Katwala Australian Cattle Dogs - Home of Oreo, Yonder, Double Stuff, Rowdy 
|>and 7 adorable little ACD monsters that are (thankfully) "just visiting"
|>!!!
|>Kathy_Buetow@QMS1.life.uiuc.edu
|>

I agree TOTALLY with Kathy!  We too live in a 1000 square foot apt
(townhouse really) with a German Shepherd puppy (4.5 mos, 
50 lbs), a Cocker Spaniel (2.5 yrs, 18 lbs), and two cats. And I know
VERY well that Kathy's dogs are good healthy, happy dogs as I've
met some of them!!! (I'm not laughing, Kathy, I don't think I have
room to talk about being a fitness nut!!!!)

Just because we live in apts does NOT mean that we can't take
proper care of our dogs! If you ask me my dogs are very well
taken care of and we try to tire them out at least once a day.
Granted we don't have a fenced yard, but we have a park
about a block away where we let the dogs run on weekends,
a bean field at the end of the road which they run in nearly
nightly AND when they don't get that run we take them 
right next door to the Post Office Parking lot and play fetch
with a tennis ball. We also do a little obedience work, usually
indoors now, as it's cold and VERY dark outside when we come
home from work. The Shepherd is kept crated while we are gone
in order to keep him away from electrical cords, the Xmas tree,
and all those other dangers (and trouble) he could get into! The 
Cocker is allowed free reign as she has proven that she won't 
cause trouble or hurt herself. Siegfried will be allowed out when
he too can prove this to us...(like when he finishes teething and
settles down a bit) 

So, by saying that you wouldn't sell ANY breed of dog to someone
who lived in an apt are you saying that because we don't have tons
of money to buy a house we should never be able to have the pleasure
of having a dog??? I think you are being a bit extremist here...and I'm
not trying to start an angry discussion here either, but it hurts when
you say those of us who can't afford a house (or are 'in transition'..
i.e. I just got out of college) can't take proper care of our dogs..I mean
that digs WAY DOWN DEEP. I love my dogs and I do the best I can for
them, (they have a vet and I don't even have a Dr for myself!, they
are fed quality food, are loved for, cared for, and kept warm and safe
AND are given the exercise they need!)

And actually, Kathy, I've often wondered how you manage with THAT
many doggies in one place!!! But I guess if I moved Peter's computer 
(and all that other stuff) we could fit that many crates in there!

Just my opinion and 'living proof' as Kathy says! :)

Kay & Crew
	Peter (hubby)
	Baeki (2.5 yr old black Cocker Spaniel)
	Pixel (1.75 yr old sealpt Siamese)
	Dante (1 yr old b&w DLH)
	Siegfried (4.5 mos old black German Shepherd)
Newsgroups: rec.pets.dogs