OT Thanks dog owners

Thanks to all the dog lovers *****sponded to my post.  Such good advice from all of you.  If I get a dog it will be small to medium sized, not purse size, maybe a Jack Russell size.  The retired greyhound is a good idea too. I like cats but you just can't interact with them as much as you can with a dog.  I will give it a lot of thought before I make a decision. I may wait until August when my lease is up here and try to find a duplex or small house to rent.   I just loved all the dog and cat stories.  What devils they can be but  you can't help but love them anyway.  Annette I can just imagine your reaction when you saw the couch, and the fridge, I pictured it all in my mind got the biggest kick out of it.  And some of you others having to deal with the loss of your pet.  I guess I have to think about that too.  Lots to think about.  Thanks to everyone. 

Well, get a dog if you want, but as far as interacting with them, I don't think that's true. I interact with my cats all the time. They greet me at the door, they comfort me when I'm sad or hurting, I play with them, they bring me their toys, they sleep with me, cuddling up with me and purring and giving me kisses. I was a dog person before I got my first two cats, Kittle and Cinnamon, and they changed me. I still like dogs, but I prefer having cats now ... easier for me to care for because, when I traveled a lot as a sports writer, I could leave them without being worried because of their litter boxes and food issues ... someone could come in and check on them once a day and that was it. And I was gone sometimes 8-10 hours and they were fine. But there they were, when I came home, watching for my car in the window and then waiting for me at the back door. I swear Kittle even commented on my clothing decisions (he was very chatty). We even played fetch. I would never have thought that of cats, but boy, they surprised me.

I thought cats would be standoffish, but they're not. I think it depends on how you bond with the animal, any animal. Some dogs aren't always all over you either. I walk in the door at night, and there's Nettie and Scooter, meowing and rubbing against me, happy to see me. It made coming home a real treat after a bad day ... I never had anything to come home to before I got the cats.

But like I said, it's your decision, and if you want a dog, that's fine. I just want you to have all the facts. Cats can interact with you, too, in so many ways you never dreamed of.

Barbara,

We cherish the memories of Barney and Stanley. NOW the images are rather funny. Back then it was a matter of laugh, cry, or swear. I did all three.

Whatever pet you choose, it will be loved and return even more

You're right Eileen. Cats are affectionate. I didn't mean to sound like I don't like them. I like them very much.  And it would probably be a better choice for me in my situation. I think if I get a cat I would get two of them, as long as they get along with each other. It's the cat hair I have trouble with.  Of course dogs shed too but  I don't think they shed as much. We'll see. They have those hairless cats. Boy are they wierd looking.  Then I saw a something crested dog on tv yesterday. It has a little hair on its head and tail and thats it. Very, shall we say, unusual?

Yeah, cat hair can be a pain, but then I was never much of a neat freak ... ask my brother (I must have been adopted, I'm a slob and the rest of my family is extremely neat). My first two cats (and the next three of the five I had in Montana) were short-haired cats, and they really didn't shed much; now Nettie is a long-haired gal, and boy, does she shed, constantly. But even Diva, who was an Abysinnian (and she's still alive, just not living with me because she decided she'd rather poop outside the box, she's back at the cat rescue shelter), and that's an extremely short-haired breed, she would shed a lot at times too. And she loved to lay on my lap and share my coffee in the morning, my AchievOne (I should have renamed her Starbucks or Latte or something like that) and get brushed ... she would purrrrr so loudly! I miss her something awful! I have no one to share coffee with anymore (although Scooter and Nettie decided AchievOne, and the subsequent protein drink substitute, was pretty good too).

Yeah, our dog Lady who I grew up with ... she was a beagle/****er spaniel/daschaund/God knows what else mix ... she shed a lot too. So did my sister's dog Lady II, a Irish setter/golden retriever mix. Unless you get a hairless breed, you're going to get hair. Animals shed.

And it just so happens I found out I'm allergic to dogs ... not cats ! Go figure ...

I found my dogs on www.petfinder.org It is also a good place to learn about the different breeds.
Val

Thanks Val, that will keep me busy for a while. My daughter has two mixed breeds. One is ****er/rat terrier the other is sheltie/rat terrier.  They are the sweetest dogs.  So a mutt is not out of the question for me either.

Barbara
I have a ****aPoo , does not shed ( POOLES DONT ) and she is part poodle   the POO In their and the smartest dog i have ever had,,,She is like a child and when it it her time , I will find another as they breed the ****er and Poodle now for this one ..
I got her from and abused home but she is SO much better now and one of the true loves in my life.
Hope you find the right one for you as well
Hugs
Shirley

If you decide on a specific breed, go to their national club website and look for rescues.  I am in love with Kerry Blue Terriers.  I have an almost 7 yr old male that we adopted when he was 5.  Rescues almost always come housebroken and past the terrible twos of chewing on things and other puppy trials.

Kerry Blues are also hypoallergenic.  They don't shed and need a hair cut about every 8 weeks or so.  On the national Kerry list we all said that we didn't want the Obamas to learn that Kerrys could be one of their choices because that would just mean that too many other people would buy one just to be like the President.  We like being a secret!!  They are an Irish dog ane a terrier - two good reasons to be stubborn and thick headed.  No problem I am Irish as well.

Thanks for the input Shirley and Marilyn.  Shirley the ****apoos are adorable and Marilyn I have never heard of the Kerry Blue. I am on my way to the web site now to check it out.