From: srlee@beta.lanl.gov (Stephen R Lee)
Subject: Re: Opinions on breed.
Organization: Los Alamos National Laboratory
Date: Fri, 18 Dec 1992 16:43:14 GMT

In article <1992Dec17.160309.1893@msus1.msus.edu> kevin@msus1.msus.edu writes:
>In article <168C0CDCC.CBARNES@tamvm1.tamu.edu>, CBARNES@tamvm1.tamu.edu (Chris Barnes) writes:
>>  
>> 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
>So lets see...my options are none?  If I hunt, live in the city, and can't
>afford to buy a house I can't have a hunting dog or in your opinion any dog?
>
>I see.
>Is this the opinion of most of you netters?
>

No.

If one is a devoted and caring dog owner, it is certainly possible to
provide a wonderful and stimulating environment for a dog, reguardless
of they type of physical structure you live in.  By the same token, it
is certainly possible to provide an extremely poor environment for a
dog, reguardless of the type of physical structure you live in. 
Once should pick a breed of dog with all of the breed characteristics in 
mind, including the size, shedding, activity level, and so on.  Alternatively,
one can choose to adopt a shelter dog after evaluating its personality on
repeat visits.  In either case, you are the one that makes the decision,
with an understanding of the effort that will be required for the rest of
the dogs life.

Naturally, some dogs are more "low maintenence" than others, and living in
an appartment might make some dogs more difficult to deal with than others.
All of the working dogs (working in the general sense, not the AKC sense)
are "high maintenence," meaning that they all need lots of exercise, attention,
and particulary, something to do in order to be healthy and happy.  Living
in a small dwelling can make this more difficult, but it certainly does NOT
mean it cannot be done.  Just that it can involve a little more effort.  
What sort of effort?  Well, for example, you might actually have to drive out 
of the city for recreation activities as opposed to walking right from
your front door to the happy hunting ground.  I say, big deal.  If you 
understand stuff like this going in and are committed to providing things
of this nature for the breed in question, then it should not be a problem.
On the other hand, even if you did live in the country with a big yard, dumping 
the dog in the backyard and expecting it to entertain itself is just as bad as 
putting it in a cramped apartment and not interacting with it.  

Country living is not a substitute for proper training, socialization,
and activity.  In fact, I would argue that where you live is irrelevant
to these things.

I am not a hunting dog expert.  However, I am familiar with other energetic
working dogs (sled dogs).  I lived used to live in an apartment, and I
sucesssfully raised *working sled dogs* there.  I'm sure that others have had 
very good results as well.  Was it more dificult than it is for me now,
living in the mountains with a lot of space?  You bet.  Did it work?  You bet.
Would I do it again?  You bet.

This is not really a flame, Chris.  I just think that it is a wee-bit of
an over-kill to say your would not sell ANY breed to ANYONE living in
an apartment.  Broad generalizations like this are rarely applicable
to everyone.  I think that one should evaluate each situation individually
and make an informed decision.  Both from a breeder point of view and a
potential owner point of view.

Just my 0.02.


>============================================================================
>Kevin Whyte						kevin@msus1.msus.edu
>	**Representing and speaking for no one but myself.**
>"Still, the best augurs are those who divine from the portents of the past. 
>They compile phenomenal records." Croaker "The Black Company" by Glen Cook
>

-- 
============================================================
Stephen R. Lee                 | 
OooWoo Racing Kennel           | I'd rather be driving sled
E-Mail: srlee@beta.lanl.gov    | dogs.
Newsgroups: rec.pets.dogs