the reality of pet ownership please

[Jess4]

Hi!
I started suffering with anxiety in December 2010. We bought our first house in January 2011. I slept on the couch for the first month because I was scared to fall asleep and needed the tv to actually fall asleep.

We got out puppy, Eddie, in July. We got him from a rescue place and he was about 3 months old when we got him. He is a labrador/hound mix. He's mostly black with a white belly, white stripe down his nose and his tail looks like he dipped it in white paint. This is honestly one of the BEST things we could have done.

Although he is quite a handful sometimes, you just can't be upset around him. Watching him chase his tail, or chase a ball you can't help but laugh. He's 65 pounds but still thinks he's a lap dog. He loves to lay right on your lap and fall asleep. Because he was a rescue, he had a few issues. The poor thing is scared of cardboard boxes and anything out of the ordinary. He's gotten better but he can still be very timid.

He's helped my anxiety by taking my mind off of it actually. I would get those "feelings" like I was about to have an attack and he would walk up to me with his ball and nudge me with it and when I would focus on him, I wouldn't focus on me. My anxiety is SO much better than it was a year ago and I really think a lot is thanks to him. As much as I love seeing my husband when I get home from work, there is NOTHING like seeing Eddie jump around the house because he's so excited to see me.

Like everyone said, there are of course costs involved. Something we got though was pet insurance. We only paid $150 for one year and it covers your pet in case of accident/illness. Recently he had to have his belly xrayed (he ate part of our couch and we thought a sock!..hes okay thought) and it only cost us $50.

It is a big step but it's so rewarding!
Good luck!
Jessica

[haz]

Hi Haz
can you recommend the muzzle you used ?
We have problem with the dog we babysit .........very much a scent hound and could if off leash go into hunt mode .
Iwant to let him off leash but with wildlife around and his basic instincts ........think kind muzzle would be the way to go . thank you
and sorry little wren for going off topic here .
Go get that furry companion !!!
maybe somedays you wont get out and that is ok . I bet you will though they make you .
and if on the occasional time you cant do it ? well no harm done . dog will be loved ,fed and warm . Lucky lucky dog xxx

snow

Hi Snowgoose,

I'm not sure if a greyhound muzzle would fit your dog, remember greyounds have very long snouts! Have another wee look at my profile pic, I don't know if there is any way you can enlarge it?

Just google greyhound muzzles, there are loads of internet sites including ebay that sell them. Also some greyhound resuce charities have online shops where you can buy them.

I have seen other basket type muzzles in Pets at Home which might be better suited to a beagle/bassett with a slightly rounder nose?

Also, remember that most dogs chase furries etc. but greyhounds (well, not mine, but most of them ) are fast enough to catch them.

Best Wishes.

Haz.

[snowgoose]

thanks Haz
got tape measure out for beagle /basset cross now ........and he dont like it
Still hope one day to get greyhound Haz when stuff settles down .
I know you miss yours . she was lucky dog to have you . and your bed .and your sofa ........and your love

[haz]

thanks Haz
got tape measure out for beagle /basset cross now ........and he dont like it
Still hope one day to get greyhound Haz when stuff settles down .
I know you miss yours . she was lucky dog to have you . and your bed .and your sofa ........and your love

I was the lucky one Snowgoose.

Thankful for the time I had with her. And......I'm off again..

Haz.

[little wren]

Yes that is one of my dogs STORM, he is an alaskan malamute, i also have a husky girl though as well !!! (i must be mad!, having such energetic dogs!)

Wow he is lovely - massive looking but still a proper cutie.

---------- Post added at 10:38 ---------- Previous post was at 10:34 ----------

jamesk - thanks for the feedback

---------- Post added at 10:52 ---------- Previous post was at 10:38 ----------

mikewales - no I would not get rescue (unless it was a cat!) for the reasons you mention. As I have agoraphobia socialisation would be puppy class at the local vets plus the local pub where all shapes and sizes of dogs often visit (with their owners lol!) and obv. out and about. I have to cope within my limits - I would love to have done some agility with it (even little ones can have a go) but I know that is a pipe dream at the moment. Thanks x

---------- Post added at 10:57 ---------- Previous post was at 10:52 ----------

sorry little wren for going off topic here .
snow

snow/haz - No it is good - as others who read this post may find it helpful - I actually prefer posts where others put up questions and ideas particularly on something so broad as pets.

little wren x

---------- Post added at 11:01 ---------- Previous post was at 10:57 ----------

Hi jessica - thanks for your response, the distraction of a pet is something I am hoping will work - like you say take your mind away from focusing on panic by focusing on the little furry (or big furry in your case if he's a lab/hound lol!) x

[mikewales]

If you get a small dog, and only have a small garden, you can buy most of the agility equipment fairly cheaply, and teach them yourself in the garden. I've got a big A frame, weaving poles, jumps and tunnels for my dog. He does tend to just run around them like a lunatic and ignore where he is supposed to be going, but he does enjoy it.

Training classes could do you both some good, get the dog trained, and also get yourself used to meeting strangers. You already have something in common with them all with the dogs, and most of the people who go to the classes are really nice, and it is a very relaxed atmosphere. The puppy party things most vets run are good as well, but they dont teach the dog a great deal, and if you can handle going to those, then you could do other training classes as its basically the same thing.

[Tish]

Hi little wren,
my first dog is a nearly 3, she's a havanese poodle cross so she's known as a poovanese or havapoo! She's the cutest, best natured, intelligent, sociable little dog in the world! (others agree) haha.
Last year, we got a min poodle who is lovely but more highly strung, she's a bit timid and barks at anything. she's a bit clingy.
My advice would be to go for one of the lovely cross breeds ie: cockapoo or lhasodoodle. The insurance is cheaper too because they have less health problems than a pure bred (not that I use insurance).
As for grooming, I do that myself. I googled 'grooming poodles' and watched the video on you tube.
I don't actually like the poodle cut so I just trim with scissors. If you start early, they soon get used to it.
Although my dogs are small, they get lots of excercise, chasing squirells in the woods and running up and down the cliffs at the seaside where we live through the summer.
I suffer from bad social anxiety but having a dog is a good way of getting out and at least saying 'good morning' to other dog owners. Your confidence grows the more you do it.
I don't know if it's still there my poovanese had her pic on www.greatdogsite.com just look for hybrids, then poovanese. She's black and called 'Bolly' (I still can't upload photo's on here, d'oh).
All the best, T x

[little wren]

mikewales - I never thought of agility in back garden (mine is perhaps a bit too small though). The vet is local - the training class is over a mile away - my fear is being too far from home. It sounds like you have a very lucky pooch there x

[daintydi]

This is Humphrey. Hes a silver standard poodle.He's 2, we got him from the standard poodle rescue. He has anxiety issues! Dont we all? Weve had him 3 weeks. he's a joy! Whenever i have a few tears, he just puts his head on my knee! makes my heart swell!
My son wrote on my mothers day card:- Humphrey isnt your whole world.... he just makes your world whole! and he does.

[little wren]

Tish - I find when they cross poodle with anything they do advertise on pets4homes.com but I have never come across that combination and I would deffo be interested in small poodle cross. At the moment I am researching papillon as they are available. Thanks for the tip on insurance it never occurred to me a cross would be cheaper to insure. I checked out the website and yes the little cutie is still there playing in the snow xxxxxxxx
little wren

---------- Post added at 13:43 ---------- Previous post was at 13:39 ----------

daintydi - wow that first photo should be framed its great! x