Border Collie?

[Beach Bum]

Ugly?  lol!

I would assume anything you get she will love but maybe getting her something she really wants will ensure it will receive a lot of attention/care from her?

If it's going to be your dog though...get the dog you want

Although if you would have the smaller dog be an inside dog but not the border collie, I would suggest you get the smaller dog.

Nice pics.  They're not the prettiest breed, but I don't think they're ugly.

No indoor dog.  We already have two indoor cats. 

I think she'll love whatever we get.  I've given up trying to reason with her.  I sent her a link the other day talking about all of the great qualities of border collies, but she doesn't care. 

I think now it's a matter of whether we get one or two.     She proposed getting two different kinds.  What do you think about that?

[Butterbean]

No indoor dog.  We already have two indoor cats. 

It doesn't matter if you have 2 indoor cats.  By indoor dogs I guess I mean indoor/outdoor.  My dogs have a fenced in yard w/a lot of shade and a doggie door to the garage so they have the whole garage also.  But usually if we are home they are inside w/us (they're both snoozing in this room I'm in right now  ) They sleep inside also...unless we are on vacation..then they sleep in the garage if the dogsitter isn't staying that night.

I know you live in Hawaii.  I've only been there once and wasn't thinking about how the temp would affect a dog if it lived outside all the time but maybe you should consider a short-haired border collie(s)?  I can't see having little dogs like a chihuahua or little pom as outdoor dogs.

But if your dogs will not be able to go inside whenever they want I'd say def. get 2 dogs.  Can you imagine being the dog that is sitting outside alone while the family you love is inside?   Maybe I project too many human emotions on dogs but I don't think so.

Just have the dogs be indoor/outdoor   .....and get a fence .....and get 2

[Beach Bum]

It doesn't matter if you have 2 indoor cats.  By indoor dogs I guess I mean indoor/outdoor.  My dogs have a fenced in yard w/a lot of shade and a doggie door to the garage so they have the whole garage also.  But usually if we are home they are inside w/us (they're both snoozing in this room I'm in right now  ) They sleep inside also...unless we are on vacation..then they sleep in the garage if the dogsitter isn't staying that night.

I know you live in Hawaii.  I've only been there once and wasn't thinking about how the temp would affect a dog if it lived outside all the time but maybe you should consider a short-haired border collie(s)?  I can't see having little dogs like a chihuahua or little pom as outdoor dogs.

But if your dogs will not be able to go inside whenever they want I'd say def. get 2 dogs.  Can you imagine being the dog that is sitting outside alone while the family you love is inside?   Maybe I project too many human emotions on dogs but I don't think so.

Just have the dogs be indoor/outdoor   .....and get a fence .....and get 2

Thanks.  Flower (I think it was her?) wanted to string me up for suggesting I would have an outdoor dog a while back.  How do you keep the dog from making a mess when they go outside and come back in?  Seems like there would be dirt all over the place.

I don’t think the weather would bother them.  It’s pretty mild in my town.  He/she would have a dog house and there are shaded areas too.   

What do you think about getting two different breeds? 

[Butterbean]

Thanks.  Flower (I think it was her?) wanted to string me up for suggesting I would have an outdoor dog a while back.  How do you keep the dog from making a mess when they go outside and come back in?  Seems like there would be dirt all over the place.

I don’t think the weather would bother them.  It’s pretty mild in my town.  He/she would have a dog house and there are shaded areas too.   

What do you think about getting two different breeds? 

I think 2 diff breeds are fine!

As for the mess from the dogs....my friend had a small indoor non-shedding dog for years and then her friends had a mastiff they could no longer care for that sheds a TON and she took that dog in.  When she first got the shedding dog she would complain about the shedding and also the slobber that gets on the walls when that dog drinks and shakes it's head.  She said one day, "When will the shedding/slobber no longer bother me?"   I said, "When you fall in love with that dog."

She fell in love w/that dog w/in a month and the mess is no longer a big deal to her.  She wipes down the wall and vaccuums up the hair.  No biggie!  In fact she says she loves the slob dog more than any other dog she's had in her life and she still has her little indoor dog!

Border collies and many other dogs do not slobber on the walls etc.  But Smokey (our border/shepard mutt) sheds a lot.  One of our couches used to be black fabric that seemed to attract her fur and looked bad an hour after I would vaccuum it.  I ended up getting rid of the fabric couch and getting another leather one.  Problem solved!

Soda (the pure bred) is a very clean dog.  When it was just her, the house stayed very clean.  But with Smokey...who goes in the swamp 3 days a week in warm weather and sheds a lot, the house is a little less clean but that dog makes me laugh all day every day and I wouldn't trade her.  If she wasn't inside w/us as much as she is, we wouldn't be enjoying her as much.  She is hilarious.

Some dogs are "cleaner" than others.  But them just walking in your house and lying around/playing in there is not going to make it a pig-sty.   If my husband would keep Smokey out of the swamp the cleanliness factor difference would be as minimal as if we had no dogs at all.  If you don't have a swamp near your home you should be fine     Also you could make a rule if you wanted as to not let your dogs on the furniture.  We don't mind it but some people do.  And in the meantime once you fall in love w/the dog the cleanliness factor becomes less of an issue.

[Beach Bum]

I think 2 diff breeds are fine!

As for the mess from the dogs....my friend had a small indoor non-shedding dog for years and then her friends had a mastiff they could no longer care for that sheds a TON and she took that dog in.  When she first got the shedding dog she would complain about the shedding and also the slobber that gets on the walls when that dog drinks and shakes it's head.  She said one day, "When will the shedding/slobber no longer bother me?"   I said, "When you fall in love with that dog."

She fell in love w/that dog w/in a month and the mess is no longer a big deal to her.  She wipes down the wall and vaccuums up the hair.  No biggie!  In fact she says she loves the slob dog more than any other dog she's had in her life and she still has her little indoor dog!

Border collies and many other dogs do not slobber on the walls etc.  But Smokey (our border/shepard mutt) sheds a lot.  One of our couches used to be black fabric that seemed to attract her fur and looked bad an hour after I would vaccuum it.  I ended up getting rid of the fabric couch and getting another leather one.  Problem solved!

Soda (the pure bred) is a very clean dog.  When it was just her, the house stayed very clean.  But with Smokey...who goes in the swamp 3 days a week in warm weather and sheds a lot, the house is a little less clean but that dog makes me laugh all day every day and I wouldn't trade her.  If she wasn't inside w/us as much as she is, we wouldn't be enjoying her as much.  She is hilarious.

Some dogs are "cleaner" than others.  But them just walking in your house and lying around/playing in there is not going to make it a pig-sty.   If my husband would keep Smokey out of the swamp the cleanliness factor difference would be as minimal as if we had no dogs at all.  If you don't have a swamp near your home you should be fine     Also you could make a rule if you wanted as to not let your dogs on the furniture.  We don't mind it but some people do.  And in the meantime once you fall in love w/the dog the cleanliness factor becomes less of an issue.

Thanks Stella.  Great info.  My wife is concerned about dogs tracking dirt in the house.   

What about the fact we have two cats?  They're both skittish, particularly Simba, who is afraid of her own shadow.  Can they live together? 

[Butterbean]

Thanks Stella.  Great info.  My wife is concerned about dogs tracking dirt in the house.   

What about the fact we have two cats?  They're both skittish, particularly Simba, who is afraid of her own shadow.  Can they live together? 

I think it depends on the dogs and cats but yes many dogs and cats live together in harmony

[Butterbean]

 

[knny187]

I guess the real question may be....

Who's the real problem....the dog or the cat?

If you have a dog thats cat agressive....can that be broke? 

or

If you have a cat thats dog agessive & lives in fear of dogs all the time..can that be broke?


Personally, I've made dogs change their view on cats....but I've never made a cat change their mind or opinions on dogs.

[Princess L]

Thanks Stella.  Great info.  My wife is concerned about dogs tracking dirt in the house.   

What about the fact we have two cats?  They're both skittish, particularly Simba, who is afraid of her own shadow.  Can they live together? 

From what I understand, introductions need to be made slowly, over the course of weeks, so as not to stress out the cat(s).  How this is done  not sure.  The subject comes up frequently (but I never listen because I don't have pet cats) on Calling All Pets - Patricia McConnell.  You may want to listen to some archived programs at wpr.org.  I'll see if I can find a link.

[temper35]

It took my dog/cat close to 3 years to live harmoniously.  She used to hiss at him, and avoid him, and he would be overbearing with her.  Now she'll be sleeping and he will walk up and lick her face and walk away. 

[Butterbean]

From what I understand, introductions need to be made slowly, over the course of weeks, so as not to stress out the cat(s).  How this is done  not sure.  The subject comes up frequently (but I never listen because I don't have pet cats) on Calling All Pets - Patricia McConnell.  You may want to listen to some archived programs at wpr.org.  I'll see if I can find a link.

I think I've heard that they put the cats in the bedroom for a day and let them smell each other through the door...then introduce them through a gated kennel or something...etc etc.  but I'm not sure.

  Now she'll be sleeping and he will walk up and lick her face and walk away. 

[Beach Bum]

From what I understand, introductions need to be made slowly, over the course of weeks, so as not to stress out the cat(s).  How this is done  not sure.  The subject comes up frequently (but I never listen because I don't have pet cats) on Calling All Pets - Patricia McConnell.  You may want to listen to some archived programs at wpr.org.  I'll see if I can find a link.

Thanks.  One of my cats is so scary she is almost feral.  Runs and hides every time a visitor is in the house and does not come out till they leave.  She might have a heart attack if we brought a dog in the house. 

[Butterbean]

Thanks.  One of my cats is so scary she is almost feral.  Runs and hides every time a visitor is in the house and does not come out till they leave.  She might have a heart attack if we brought a dog in the house. 

She'll get used to it

[Beach Bum]

Much to the chagrin of my daughter and my wife, I am sold on Border Collies.  Just ONE.  Maybe.   

But . . . my daughter is asking about Huskies as a good "compromise."  What do you know/think about Huskies?

[tonymctones]

Much to the chagrin of my daughter and my wife, I am sold on Border Collies.  Just ONE.  Maybe.   

But . . . my daughter is asking about Huskies as a good "compromise."  What do you know/think about Huskies?

I dont know much about huskies but im pretty sure border collies deal with heat better and ive heard that huskies can be a tad aggresive.

[Beach Bum]

I dont know much about huskies but im pretty sure border collies deal with heat better and ive heard that huskies can be a tad aggresive.

Thanks tony. 

[temper35]

I dont know much about huskies but im pretty sure border collies deal with heat better and ive heard that huskies can be a tad aggresive.

No dog is inherently aggressive.  Huskies have interesting drives though.  They are probably more gentle with children than some other breeds.

Another big thing with Huskies is the shedding.  Unless you are willing to brush it regularly, and really keep on top of it in the warm months, I wouldn't go there.  You would not believe the amount of hair a Husky blows in the spring/summer.

[Princess L]

Much to the chagrin of my daughter and my wife, I am sold on Border Collies.  Just ONE.  Maybe.   

But . . . my daughter is asking about Huskies as a good "compromise."  What do you know/think about Huskies?

A "compromise" to what?

Huskies are working dogs.  They get bored easily (doggy ADD) so they need lots of exercise or will become destructive.  They have the rep of being "runners" - ie: they roam...

Lots of hair - shedding. They are a cool climate animal and might not do well in the heat.  Remember "Siberian Husky" = from Siberia.  They're beautiful though.

[Beach Bum]

A "compromise" to what?

Huskies are working dogs.  They get bored easily (doggy ADD) so they need lots of exercise or will become destructive.  They have the rep of being "runners" - ie: they roam...

Lots of hair - shedding. They are a cool climate animal and might not do well in the heat.  Remember "Siberian Husky" = from Siberia.  They're beautiful though.

 Thanks for the info. 

The "compromise" is she doesn't like the way Border Collies look.  Huskies are supposed to be smart and they're prettier.  So instead of getting a dumb dog or a sissy dog (which she wants) or a really smart dog (which I want) we get a smart, pretty dog.   

[temper35]

Thanks for the info. 

The "compromise" is she doesn't like the way Border Collies look.  Huskies are supposed to be smart and they're prettier.  So instead of getting a dumb dog or a sissy dog (which she wants) or a really smart dog (which I want) we get a smart, pretty dog.   

You should really do some research on how much upkeep is required to make a Husky look "pretty".

[Princess L]

Thanks for the info. 

The "compromise" is she doesn't like the way Border Collies look.  Huskies are supposed to be smart and they're prettier.  So instead of getting a dumb dog or a sissy dog (which she wants) or a really smart dog (which I want) we get a smart, pretty dog.   

Please try to be considerate of the breed when making your selection.  Your climate and Husky (or similar type) don't seem conducive to eachother.

Maybe look into a Shiba Inu or other spitz type if you're into that look...

[Beach Bum]

You should really do some research on how much upkeep is required to make a Husky look "pretty".

Will do. 

[Beach Bum]

Please try to be considerate of the breed when making your selection.  Your climate and Husky (or similar type) don't seem conducive to eachother.

Maybe look into a Shiba Inu or other spitz type if you're into that look...

I'm not really into looks much.  It's those females I live with. 

It's actually not that bad here for the most part.  It's around 82 to 85 most of the year, nice tradewinds.  We have periods where the trades disappear and it gets a little miserable, but that's the exception. 

[onlyme]

I love those pics of the dog and cat together.  I had a cool dog with a cat we found at my house on Oahu.  They played so much it was hilarious.  That cat would literally pounce on the dog from above.  And they would play wrestle all the time.  I loved watching those two together