Non Weim Question - Fostering

Phoenix1705 · Posted: Wed Jul 23, 2008 9:57 am Post subject:

Hi there! It's really sad people wouldn't want to adopt a dog all because of it's color. There are so many black cats, and black mix dogs in our shelters right now it's insane. From what I have learned about doxies, they need lots of small things to chew on, watch them for digging in the backyard or burrowing holes in your carpet, however at 5 years I doubt that would be an issue. Watch her weight, they can gain quickly if they can get thier little paws on scraps. Now while they don't need as much exercise as Sophie needs, they still need to get out there and run. You have a daughter, correct? Is she old enough to take the little one out in the backyard and walk it on leash? I know a weim could knock her down without much effort but a doxie would be hard pressed assuming she is older than 6 or so. The doxie my mother had for a while before she gave it to my grandmother was a big snuggle bug who liked to play for all of an hour or two a day and sleep on your head at night.

My suggestion would be take it slow, keep the rescue involved as much as possible. I am sure you have thought about all of your options, and you aren't just springing out and adopting a dog, if you were , you wouldn't have posted here first asking for advice. You would have posted a few days later saying meet so and so. You aren't being irrational by asking for advice, and once again you show a lot of strength for going up against some of the personal attack comments you knew you were going to receive when you posted this. Good for you for still wanting to be a part of this community and respecting the advice you get here even though you are sometimes bashed on the same page. I know you want to do your part, and I am sure you'll find the right mesh of involvement in the animal kingdom!

Take care!

wildlifecr13 · Posted: Wed Jul 23, 2008 10:51 am Post subject:

I dont know if this helps, but I dont think we are trying to be mean with our comments - I am certainly not.
I think we are a good litmus test, a red face test if you will, for what makes sense and what doesnt.
I think your decisions are driven by emotion... foreclosures, saving one life, etc. What if 3 weeks in you cant take it and have to give her back? You have to ask yourself, are you doing what is best for the dog? Are you putting her in the best position to succeed?

Based on my experience, my weims are much easier to train/control than my folks doxie. maybe thats just an individual dog, but Zoe is about a month younger than their doxie, and despite Zoe's slightly higher energy level, I think she is a much easier dog to own/deal with.

Ellinorianne · Posted: Wed Jul 23, 2008 11:11 am Post subject:

Um, I thought I was pretty clear that we couldn't handle a weim. That's why she's with someone who can give her what she needs, the time, the exercise, etc.

I'm not sure where that got lost, but Sophie was too much for me and it was about what was in her best interest. She was a cosntant go go go girl, just as a weim is.

I sincerely hoped too that having Sophie would help me be as active as I used to be, that she would be my walking buddy, my hiking budy and our family dog. I was wrong. And there was and still is nothing wrong with Sophie, I just couldn't do it.

I thought I was pretty clear about that, but I guess I wasn't. I hope this clarifies things.

I personally don't believe just because someone rehomes a dog for their best interest that they should never be able to own a dog again.

Ellinorianne · Posted: Wed Jul 23, 2008 11:19 am Post subject: