Choosing a Dog.

[Kronos1965]

Optomist,

I volunteer for a humane society and use the Titan to shuttle dogs to adoptathons and to their new owners.

There are no guarantees that a dog will be healthy. I had a black lab that died of cancer at age 10 and up to three months before was very healthy and no signs of trouble.

I had a chocolate that lived to be 16 years old.

All breeds will have their share of issues. I do recommend to ask that a prospective dog go to a vet first before you make the commitment so that you can have him/her independently checked out. $70-$100 for a full run of tests at a local Petsmart should do it.

The attached picture is Casey. A broken leg, torn ear, cracked ribs, fracture in his back/hip dysplasia, broken teeth, internal organs dropped from lack of food, and heart damage. 2 of 3 vets that I took him to when we pulled him from the shelter said to put him down as the more humane thing to do.

Four years later, he's as good as he can be despite his health.

Bottomline-if you will care for the dog, he/she will give you everything he/she can until such time as his/her health fades. Enjoy every minute until then and I'd say you will have memories to last a lifetime.

Mike

[Bayou Titan]

That's a beautiful dog.

[dhammond]

I say give the little guys a chance

[Optimist]

Kronos, that is some very cool charity work & you did good by Casey… I think I want your dog! Thanks for the advice.

[shawnwat4]

Mike that is a great thing you did with Casey. its amazing how much dogs can mean to a person. My yellow lab will turn 2 in june. i honestly can't imagine what life would be like w/out him.
Optimist, good luck as your search resumes.

[konigfritz]

I grew up with labs and retrievers. Great dogs, as you already know. The rescue groups are a great way to save a dog from a possibly miserable life. good luck.

Shawn, are those your ugly feet in that pic?

[shawnwat4]

Originally Posted by konigfritz

I grew up with labs and retrievers. Great dogs, as you already know. The rescue groups are a great way to save a dog from a possibly miserable life. good luck.

Shawn, are those your ugly feet in that pic?

LOL, yea, i wear flip flops just about everywhere, and i had dropped a chair on my toe. Hehe, why are you looking at my feet fritzer

[konigfritz]

The were sooooo Ugly that I couldn't not look at them. LOL

Sorry , Promise not to jack this thread.

[shawnwat4]

ya, sorry. Dogs do love trucks.....but labs especially love 'em

[konigfritz]

The pointers do too.

[Kenny Blankenship]

Labs are definetly one of the greatest breeds of dogs...I've got one pure bred black lab, 2 years old and one black lab/boarder collie cross 5 years old--the x is smart as he!! but maybe to smart for his own good. The pure bred--he is still a little haywire acting like a puppy and all but it's hard not to love them both.

[shawnwat4]

kenny those are some good looking labs. they look alot heavier than mine, but he's only 72 ilbs so i think just about any lab is heavier than him.

fritzy, what'd you have to do to your pooch to get him to do that trick



got one more of mine

[konigfritz]

That's a ***** for your info! She sleeps like that all the time.

[shawnwat4]

Originally Posted by konigfritz

That's a ***** for your info! She sleeps like that with my head down there all the time.

thats a little wierd don't ya think, i don't think optimist wants to know your wierd dog training tricks, he just wanted advice on picking a good pup out at a rescue

[konigfritz]

Originally Posted by shawnwat4

kenny you are a good looking Dude. You look alot heavier than me, but I'm only 72 ilbs so i think just about anybody is heavier than me.

Shawn............................