OS Pups Thread!

[8]

Re: OS Pups Thread!

Question for you guys...

We have a 1.5 year old Golden Retriever. My wife and I work a lot of hours...typically leaving the house around 7am and returning around 7pm or later. I stop by at lunch to let the dog out and play with him for a bit before heading back into work. When we get home at 7pm, he's usually fired up the entire night (I assume he sleeps most of the day). We take him for an hour long walk most nights, but he's still wired when we get home. We're considering getting another dog so he has someone to play with while we're at work. Good idea? Bad idea? Any other thoughts?

I feel a bit guilty because he's a really great dog, but I think he sleeps so much during the day since no one is home and has too much pent up energy. Our hope is that with another dog, he'll play more with that dog and get his energy out.

EDIT: Forgot to mention that he's very good with other dogs.

That's a good idea, but be prepared for the possibility that the new dog might not be as well behaved. I had a golden as well but it wasn't as energetic as yours. When my parents would come to visit they would bring their dog and they got along fine and my dog seemed to be happier then normal on those occasions.

[mjb2124]

Re: OS Pups Thread!

I have a 9 year old lab and considering the same thing. I just don't want him to feel like his territory is being invaded.

We've done trial runs with other dogs coming to our house and my dog doesn't seem to care in the least. Almost seems to just be happy that there is another dog to wrestle with and play around with.

That's a good idea, but be prepared for the possibility that the new dog might not be as well behaved. I had a golden as well but it wasn't as energetic as yours. When my parents would come to visit they would bring their dog and they got along fine and my dog seemed to be happier then normal on those occasions.

That's certainly a concern I've brought up to my wife. Our dog has been really good inside the house...doesn't chew on baseboards, walls, couches etc..., doesn't eat things he shouldn't eat, doesn't pee/poop inside the house etc... If we got a new dog and that dog started destroying the house, we'd have a problem. Such a tough decision. I want what's best for my dog, but I'm not entirely sure what that is right now.

[FlyingFinn]

Re: OS Pups Thread!

Also, you have to be prepared for some destruction. Wrestling dogs in the house may not be a great idea.

We have a yellow lab and my wife and I both work as well. For him, he gets a 40 minute walk in the morning with my wife. She also plays "hide and seek" with his toys with him for about 10 minutes to give him some mental stimulation. As she walks out the door to go to work, he gets a kong with some treats in it for him to try and dig out. I come home around two like you to let the dog out. I take him on a 20-30 minute run with me. Before dinner, I will take him out in the back yard and play frisbee or something with him for 10 minutes or so. After dinner, it's another 30-40 minute walk and he is ready for bed by 10 pm. On weekends, he gets to go to the dog beach to swim or the dog park to play for an hour or 2.

Now my dog had to be "quiet" the first 2 years of his life because of back to back ACL surgerys (1 on each leg) so he learned early to just "relax" while he is inside. He is 6 now but still acts like and has the energy of a puppy but when he is inside, he just laying around or chewing on Nylabones

[mjb2124]

Re: OS Pups Thread!

FlyingFinn - We do the "Hide and Seek" thing as well. It seems to work well and he enjoys it a lot. We've also left treats in a few different kongs when we leave, but I'm pretty sure he gets those out in a matter of minutes (based on what I've seen him do when we are home).

We probably should walk him more than we do, but outside of first thing in the morning - which would be close to 5am - and right after work, there isn't any additional time in the day. I could give him a quick walk while I come home for lunch, but 1 hour goes quickly (especially when 20min is gone due to back/forth commute). I hate this time of year as well. It's 35 degrees and everything is wet...taking him in the backyard to run around and play frisbee can't happen because he'd be a muddy mess when we came in (ground is really wet with all the rain we get at this time of year).

My wife is certain we should get another dog, but I'm on the fence. If we could guarantee another dog would be as good as him and they'd get along perfectly while releasing their energy and not destroying the house, it would be a no-brainer. Wish it was that simple.

[Bellsprout]

Re: OS Pups Thread!

This is Ruby. She's 11 and enjoys chewing bones. She has a giant lump in her belly and the vet guy told us to save our money because she probably won't be around long enough to justify yearly vaccinations. So, she's on a clock. And she was the dog of my childhood. And I will be crushed when she's gone.

If you've been following OT or whatever, Ruby is the one that's now passed on. She was an unbelievable dog. The last few months were pretty rough for her, but I'll always remember the dog that used to tear apart literally any toy we bought her (one time she broke one of those "Unbreakable" toy bones in half with one bite), made me laugh countless times just by being a weirdo, and greeted me at the door every day when I came home from wherever I was.

[8]

Re: OS Pups Thread!

I'm sorry to hear that man. I lost my dog (who was the first dog that I raised by myself) over the summer. There's not much someone can say or do, but time makes it better. You'll still have moments when you think about her but in reality that's one of the best parts of having a dog, the good times and memories.

[fistofrage]

Re: OS Pups Thread!

If you've been following OT or whatever, Ruby is the one that's now passed on. She was an unbelievable dog. The last few months were pretty rough for her, but I'll always remember the dog that used to tear apart literally any toy we bought her (one time she broke one of those "Unbreakable" toy bones in half with one bite), made me laugh countless times just by being a weirdo, and greeted me at the door every day when I came home from wherever I was.

Yeah, our dog gets one of those Dog stockings for Christmas. In theory its the biggest waste of $20 you could imagine, but he loves it and we get a good laugh out of it. He has evry toy ruined within 5 minutes, except he always saves 1.

He can take a tennisball and crack it in two by putting it way back in his Jowels. You just hear chick, check and its in half. He sawed a giant tug rope in two in the matter of minutes. Half Lab, Half Gator. He's turning 8 and you'd think he was 1 1/2 as active as he is. But I fear the day is nearing where he slows down.

[GOBLUE_08]

So I had pretty sad day last week, I had to turn my dog in the the animal rescue league because she enjoyed getting out and running around the neighborhood. After multiple complaints from the neighbors, and a cuople visits from the cops we ultimately had no choice. She didnt bother anyone or tear anything up she.just liked to explore I guess. It sucks because she was a really good dog who just had an adventurous side. After sitting at the shelter for.two hours with her, I cant remember anything more heart breaking than her turning around and looking at me.like where are they taking me! Hopefully they can find someone with enough space for her to run around. I wanna call the shelter to see how shes doing but I wouldnt be able to take it if they tell me they had to put her down. I had to hold back tears when my daughter asked me where she was. I explained it to her and she looked at me and politely asked for peanut butter and jelly sandwich lol.

[Aggies7]

So I had pretty sad day last week, I had to turn my dog in the the animal rescue league because she enjoyed getting out and running around the neighborhood. After multiple complaints from the neighbors, and a cuople visits from the cops we ultimately had no choice. She didnt bother anyone or tear anything up she.just liked to explore I guess. It sucks because she was a really good dog who just had an adventurous side. After sitting at the shelter for.two hours with her, I cant remember anything more heart breaking than her turning around and looking at me.like where are they taking me! Hopefully they can find someone with enough space for her to run around. I wanna call the shelter to see how shes doing but I wouldnt be able to take it if they tell me they had to put her down. I had to hold back tears when my daughter asked me where she was. I explained it to her and she looked at me and politely asked for peanut butter and jelly sandwich lol.

What kind of dog. My lab has gotten out a few times but never got any complaints.

[AUChase]

Re: OS Pups Thread!

Apparently my dog has a sweater that I didn't know about..

I went to the kitchen for a beer and there she was..

[Aggies7]

Apparently my dog has a sweater that I didn't know about..

I went to the kitchen for a beer and there she was..

Nice picture. I am going to assume she didn't go find that and put that on herself.

[GOBLUE_08]

What kind of dog. My lab has gotten out a few times but never got any complaints.

She was a pit bull, so I can sorta understand the concern but she never messed with anyone.

[AUChase]

Re: OS Pups Thread!

Nice picture. I am going to assume she didn't go find that and put that on herself.

Pretty sure ny mom bought it.

[trobinson97]

Re: OS Pups Thread!

She was a pit bull, so I can sorta understand the concern but she never messed with anyone.

Why did you keep letting her get out?

[Aggies7]

Why did you keep letting her get out?

Yea a pitbull is understandable.

As for why he let him out I cannot answer but I will say my yellow lab would find holes in fence and would go. But we got a new fence put up to stop that.