Some people really shouldn't even think of getting a dog.
A certain staff member, who tends to be a little "quirky" latched on to one of the presenters during a break, and we were all talking about dogs. She started asking her about getting the perfect shelter dog. Here is a list of her requirements: -must be very small -no shedding (fur or hair) -no jumping -doesn't bark -doesn't require exercise outside of walking around inside the house -already housebroken (one hundred percent) -good with kids -stays off the furniture -can amuse itself when needed -can be left at home for long periods of time -not a licker -doesn't throw up on the carpet -about a year old -exceedingly calm -completely hypoallergenic The adoption lady/presenter was so polite, and kept trying to tell her (gently) that although her list was pretty specific, she might get lucky if she's willing to drive out/check out the website every week. She initially started off trying to convince her that shelter dogs often have had a rough start, so sometimes they need to be housebroken, but that that shouldn't be a deal breaker. She didn't get anywhere and gave up quickly on trying. My colleague insisted that it was a deal breaker. She had no time at all to devote to housebreaking, and was not prepared to sacrifice her carpets. I tried to discourage her completely from even considering a dog, but my colleague said that I wasn't the one to ask because I liked "big, troubled dogs." (Not an entirely untrue statement.) That launched a brief side conversation about our Rudy, and his issues, and most of all HIS PROGRESS. But, within a minute we were back to her must have list. I started getting a little snarky, and tried to cut in and say that if she had no time for any of those things, then it wasn't fair to get a dog at all. The HS lady agreed, but my colleague would not stop. Then she thinks for a minute and says, "What kind of return policy do you have?" I wanted to smack her upside the head. The HS person said that they will take back any dog, of course (and there's an official one week no questions asked thing in case it doesn't work out), but that it really isn't ideal to take a dog for a few days to try it out with the intent to return them until you find just the right one. Mercifully the bell went around then, and the presenter was able to excuse herself and RUN back to the room for the next presentation. I had a few minutes, so I went back to my room, grabbed a large rock (I'd say a ten pound (or so?) chunk of rose quartz) that I had on my shelf, and brought it back to my colleague, setting it down heavily on her desk and smiling. "What's that?" she asked. I replied. "It's the only thing that meets your insane criteria. Meet your new dog, Fluffy. You can adopt him today." Sadly, she still doesn't get it. |
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| Way to go Tracie, the rock is definitely her speed. I had a co-worker several years ago that got some tiny pure bred dog and the kids loved it, well the dog peed the first day or two and she just wouldn't have it, back it went and she got the perfect dog. Don't think her kids were too impressed with her and I definitely wasn't. Have cleaned up more than my share of the messes and they are still here ruling the roost. |
grabbed a large rock.!!!????!!!  u had me for a split second. and the saddest part, doesn't even get it.  on a positive note, thank god alot of people who shouldn't have a dog don't consider getting one. i'm thinkin we wouldn't wanna know the actual percentage of people who shouldn't have dogs or pets. so, once again thanks to all the rescuers here.  |
| had a few minutes, so I went back to my room, grabbed a large rock (I'd say a ten pound (or so?) chunk of rose quartz) that I had on my shelf, and brought it back to my colleague, setting it down heavily on her desk and smiling. "What's that?" she asked. I replied. "It's the only thing that meets your insane criteria. Meet your new dog, Fluffy. You can adopt him today." Sadly, she still doesn't get it. --------  Oh, we get those looking for rescue dogs too. One of the ones who called for Dazz wanted pretty much all of the above AND hip clearances AND her parents' hip clearances (bwahaha) and to know how well she fit the breed standard. She was show quality, right?  I told him that regretfully she had been adopted while we were speaking. He was a little taken aback at the peculiar way we appeared to do things, but it saved me a 30 minute explanation of why not even a reputable breeder could guarantee him every single one of his requirements, never mind rescue. I didn't refer him to any breeders either. They're friends and I'd like them to stay that way. Plus I couldn't guarantee they would be as kind with a big ten pound rock in their hands as you are  I thought the point you were going to make (after I figured out you hadn't actually smacked her in the head with it) was that she was "dumber than..." Some people are like that. Oh, well. The consolation is they rarely if ever actually end up getting a dog.Kristine |
| OH NO!! Such a missed opportunity. There's quite a few people here on the forum who have the perfect dog for your work colleague. They may have been willing to let her adopt.  -must be very small check -no shedding (fur or hair) check -no jumping check -doesn't bark check -doesn't require exercise outside of walking around inside the house check -already housebroken (one hundred percent) check -good with kids check -stays off the furniture check -can amuse itself when needed check -can be left at home for long periods of time check -not a licker check -doesn't throw up on the carpet check -about a year old check -exceedingly calm check -completely hypoallergenic check Yep I know the perfect dog for her!!!!! They're those dulux stuffies, the SMALL ones of course.  |
I think the media is somewhat perpetuating the myth that there is a perfect dog and that you can create a wish list and then--bingo find it!! On Good Morning America this week they did a long segment on 'designer dogs'. I was irritated that the slant seemed to be that you pick out the 'best' traits in two breeds and you get 'perfect'!  What about the other traits--the ones not so good--where do they go??? They even went so far as to (thinking they were clever) suggesting two breeds that others hadn't already thought of--putting the names together to come up with something rather stupid!!  They ended the segment by exclaiming that the price of these 'designer' dogs was very high for the most part...and the last sentence of the segment was that people who own these dogs don't like for them to be referred to as... MUTTS! |
| ^^^^^^ So annoying. You're right where do the not so good traits go??? And no need to worry, I grew up in farming country, where we would NEVER call a mixed breed a mutt they were referred to as mongrels. And I cast no aspersions on any of our gorgeous forum mixes! Every dog I owned from infancy until the two I have now were rescued accidental mixed breeds and then my first dalmo was from a BYB before I knew any better. They were all great dogs who were loved dearly and are still missed. |
Mim, I've told more than one person that an OES stuffie would be the way to go to fit their lifestyle.  We got the coolest dog surrendered to rescue this week. The family saw the show "Dogs 101" featuring the Old English Sheepdog and just HAD to have one. Three children under the age of five (one set of twins), working parents and no experience with the breed. Poor dog spent his days locked in the crate while the family was away and all night in the crate as the family slept. Then wondered why this 1-yr. old pup was rambunctious and mouthy. At least they realized they couldn't provide him with the home he deserved. Now he's going to live with a wonderful newly-retired couple on 4 acres of land, multiple-OES experience and probably won't be spending much time in a crate from now on.  TV shows could do so much to promote various breeds but they rarely get it right when they spotlight that breed. People generally think of their own needs before that of their pets. Well, unless they're on this forum and are slaves to their dogs. |
Mim wrote: ^^^^^^ And I cast no aspersions on any of our gorgeous forum mixes! Every dog I owned from infancy until the two I have now were rescued accidental mixed breeds and then my first dalmo was from a BYB before I knew any better. They were all great dogs who were loved dearly and are still missed. Absolutely--Growing up we all of our dogs were what we called 'heinz 57'! And all of them were loved and cherished! I was referring to the fact that these people were insisting that these mixes were becoming recognized breeds and they did not appreciate the reference to mutts! They spoke about choosing a breed that did not bark and crossing it with a breed that did not shed and you would have a perfect dog for apartment living etc. I was just irritated and annoyed by the whole story! I've met some of these the 'goldendoodles and the labradoodles'--they are sweet dogs but I was not inspired to own one. |
Maggie McGee IV wrote: People generally think of their own needs before that of their pets. That's me to a "T". I only consider my own needs with Mady. My need no. 1: Mady's health and safety. My need no. 2: Mady's happiness. I don't know how you didn't toss that rock at her Tracie, I hope you don't have to work too closely with that co-worker on a regular basis. |
| I too thought you'd take the rose quartz to the side of her head..........what a waste of a lovely rock. Maybe a stuffed dog......no wait, they get dusty and need cleaning. |
| Does Ms. Quirky have children? Suggest she see's to her children meeting those standards, then she will be ready for a pet. |
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