From: dan@msen.com (Dan Sugalski)
Newsgroups: rec.pets.dogs
Subject: Re: Looking for a dog
Date: 22 Dec 92 22:52:29 GMT
Organization: Msen, Inc. -- Ann Arbor, Michigan
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Gordon Banks (geb@cs.pitt.edu) wrote:

: I'm sure this is a frequent request and boring for most of you,
: but I'm going to try anyhow.  I am moving to a place with 8 acres
: and am considering getting a dog.  I do not have a family and
: am gone during the day and would like to have a dog that will
: watch the place while I am gone.  It is not a high crime
: area, and is unlikely that there will be intruders.

A dog can be a deterrent, but isn't fool proof.  Also, it would be best
inside to protect the house as a tied or kenneled dog won't stop a person
from entering.

:  It would
: also be nice to be able to have a garden without deer and raccoons
: eating everything out of it, and a dog would serve well for that.

Don't let your dog run deer!  It is a good way to have your dog shot,
which is legal in some areas.  Also, deer runners often start running
livestock.  Racoons are also very prone to carrying rabies and distemper.
Racoons can also do a job on a dog in a fight.

: The previous owner had a St. Bernard which did all that fine, but
: I was thinking about something a bit cheaper to feed and hopefully
: longer lived.  The dog would live outside and thus would need to
: have a coat thick enough for weather down to zero degrees (although
: it could go into the barn or a dog house for shelter if it wanted
: to).

An outside dog needs to be confined and is of limited use as a protector
of the house.
  
: It should be trainable so it will not be destructive or
: vicious or leave the property.  It should be able to amuse itself
: while I am at work and not require constant human companionship.
: I would take it with me jogging or hiking and 8 acres should be
: plenty for it to exercise on its own.

The dog should not run free.  This is how dog packs get started, among
other problems.

:  I would be willing to spend
: time training it or money to send it to school if need be.

Your best bet is to takle the dog to classes.  Otherwise, you still need
to learn to work with the dog if someone else trains it.

:  I don't want a dog with a lot of health problems, and after reading a
book
 : about how breeders have bred dogs for show and ruined many breeds,
: I am somewhat worried about that.  I care nothing for showing the
: dog and just want a smart one with a good temperament and a low
: maintenance but warm coat.  Have I overspecified, or does anyone
: have any strong feelings about what kind of dog I should look for
: and where to get one?  (I know about not getting them from pet stores).

Despite the furor over conformation dogs currently taking place, there
probably aren't any breeds which have been totally ruined.  What you need
to do is talk to a few breeders.  You want to look for breeders who do
health checks on their dogs.  You also want to see the mother at least. 
Her temperament shows its influence both in what the pups have inherited
and experienced. 


* Learn as much about the breed(s) as you can.  Read books, ask questions.
* Don't be in a rush to find a puppy. 
* Don't be afraid to ask questions. 
* Expect a health guarantee on the puppy for more than the "72 hours from
  pickup" that some people call a health guarantee.  A responsible breeder
  will be willing to back up the puppies health (ie free from hereditary
  defects) and temperament. 
* Expect the breeder to question you.  A responsible breeder cares where 
  that puppy is going.  

Karen
Newsgroups: rec.pets.dogs