From: vinod@watson.ibm.com (Vinod Narayanan)
Subject: Need help with choosing a dog to adopt
Date: Mon, 11 Jan 1993 20:24:18 GMT
Reply-To: vinod@vnet.ibm.com
Disclaimer: This posting represents the poster's views, not necessarily those of IBM
Organization: IBM 
Keywords: adoption, shelter, GSD mix, samoyed
Followup-To: rec.pets.dogs


We have been thinking about getting a dog for a few months now,
and finally decided on adopting an adult dog, since our schedules
make it difficult to raise a puppy. We want the dog to be a pet,
company for jogging and walking, an "alarm" dog, and a protector
if the need really arose. We both like GSDs, so we went to the
shelter looking for a GSD type dog. We saw two dogs we like -

1. A GSD type female, about two years old. She seemed to be very
   calm, poised, not agressive or nervous, though
   a little aloof. She has been in the shelter for several months,
   and looks a little scrawny. Her coat is also kind of bare in certain
   places.

2. A male samoyed (they actually called it a husky mix!), I think about
   a year old. He seemed very friendly and very playful. Not nervous or
   agressive, but wanted to pull me away once I got outside. I guess he
   wants to be top dog. He sure is a looker though! (White and biscuit,
   fluffy coat, and smiling eyes :-) Seems to be in very good physical
   condition.

As both of us don't have much experience with dogs, I have several
questions, especially about the samoyed.

1. Since both of the dogs are not well trained, are they going
   to be very difficult to train? Don't even know if they
   are really house-broken. I intend to enroll in an obedience
   class, but is it possible to train a dog at that age?

2. Do samoyeds make good watch dogs? (Or are they like huskies
   in that they just want to be friends with everyone) What
   are their grooming requirements? Do they shed a lot? Do they
   like lots of outside access or will they be happy indoors 
   when we are away? 

3. I would take the dog jogging for about two miles about   
   5 times a week, and lots of long walks once summer comes around.
   Is that enough exercise for either of these breeds (I think the
   GSD mix is mostly GSD, a light boned type, weighing around 60
   pounds or so).

4. The samoyed is still whole. If I adopt him, I would get him
   neutered. Is neutering at this age going to affect him heavily?
   Has his disposition been changed by being whole for couple
   of years? (Like, would he always want to be very dominant)

5. Should I be really worried about the leanness and coating
   problems of the GSD mix, or is it just being in a shelter
   for that long? If it is just nutrition or worms or something
   like that, I am not too worried, I guess some TLC and good 
   food and a trip to the vet might be all that is needed. But
   could it be an indication of something deeper?          

6. How long do GSDs usually live? There was a beautiful 6 yr
   old female, I did not look at her as I thought she might
   not be around for more than 3 to 4 years.

7. What questions should I be asking the shelter staff? (The
   shelter has around 75 dogs, so I don't know if they know
   much about the individual dogs). Both dogs don't seem to
   have much history recorded there, looks like they were
   both picked up running stray.

Many thanks in advance for any pointers. I intend to go back
there later in the week and again saturday to spend more
time with the dogs before making a decision. ( I don't want
to decide in a hurry...)

--vinod                                        (914)-892-4107
vinod@vnet.ibm.com                  
  We don't have time to think; we have programs to write!