Stuff...

[shipperx]

* So work. Deadlines. What's new? I don't know what it is about rushing to meet a deadline that's so darn exhausting even in a sedentary job... but it is. (And of course the printer knew we were rushing and so politely decided to go on strike. Bad printer!)

* I tried checking in on BuffyForums but... confession. While I've never been a cheerleader of the comics, I at least found something fun in snarking about them. Now? Zzzz.... This whole baby plot (not to mention speculating Who's the Daddy) has me bored, bored, bored. I've seen too many soap operas, people. Who's the Daddy is always a dull, repetitive, annoying plot point. And I do. not. care. And I don't care about the baby either because we all know it's either going to be stashed in the attic, given away, or a star baby. So why even bother and not simply just say we did it a bazillion times in fanfic? It's not that a baby plot cannot be done, but in this context and with this crew? Zzzzzzzzzzz...

* I've been looking at puppies online. I've been promising myself for years that I'll get a puppy... someday. (meaning when my dear girl was gone. And not to go into the depressing details, but my poor kitty cannot possibly continue on for long. She takes the subcutaneous fluids like a good girl. But the poor baby simply does not eat to any reasonable degree and is emaciated at this point. She doesn't appear to be in physical distress, but... well... she simply cannot survive long without eating more than whatever I can beg her to drink or feed her an with eyedropper.)

So, to distract myself, I've been looking at puppies. I was looking at Goldendoodles last night. Bejeebus! They charge a LOT of money for goldendoodles. There are purebreds who are less expensive than goldendoodles. Do they not realize that a few years ago these were simply considered mutts?

I've also looked at Shih Tzu (they are a high possibility because of their temperament. But I'd want the standard not the extra-small versions)

And variations on poodles such as a Maltipoo (so cute!). Or a shih-poo. Or just straight miniature poodle (no teacup. My family has owned both, and I'd prefer the heartier size. A standard poodle would be too much though. So at least a miniature).

(And yes, rescues are acceptable. I've been searching those sites as well)

My desire is basically for a relatively small but not super-small dog that likes being a housedog, without a need for huge amounts of exercise. Just short walkies. Basically your general lap/couch dog. I also want one who is relatively young (if not a puppy) and healthy. On top of that, I don't want it to be a super yappy type (it's why I'm avoiding Yorkies no matter how utterly adorable they are.). No rush yet as I'm not wishing my dear little Carly away. It's just that she's so sad and delicate looking these days. And I really have no hope that she'll get better. It's about managing her decline at this point and ensuring that she's in no real distress.

* The weather around here is decidedly weird. It's the winter with no winter. I was walking around in flip-flops outdoors this weekend because it was in the 60s. Still is for that matter. It looks like spring around here... complete with spring tornadoes. Another relatively bad one hit just north of the city Sunday night. Destroying more neighborhoods and another school. It's so strange that weather can be so incredibly destructive (and yet it also is mostly... spring in January around here.) At least it's good for the electric bill.

Comments

[txvoodoo.livejournal.com]

Goldendoodles are lovely but GOOD LORD, they may be the most stupid dogs ever.

Look at petfinder! I won't look there. Whenever I do, we end up with another dog.

[green-maia.livejournal.com]

*Hugs*

[nutmeg3.livejournal.com]

Goldendoodles are still mutts. The fact that "breeders" can get people to pay buttloads of money for any of these designer hybrids is a scam. They don't breed true, you can get a wide variety within any litter, and you're just as likely to get the worst of both breeds as the best. Also, goldendoodles are big, so they don't fit your profile anyway.

My rec, since you're not set on a purebred, is go for a dog from 9-18 months, and look at your local shelter(s) and on petfinder.com. At that age you'll have a good sense of size, temperament and personality, but you won't be spending a fortune and you'll be doing a Very Good Thing.

And big, big ::hugs:: on Carly. I was there 6 or 7 years ago with my beloved Beetle, sub-Q fluids and all. It's a hard time, but so long as she's happy, treasure every day, because damn, sweet old kitties are sweet.

[fenchurche.livejournal.com]

I was going to recommend looking for a Corgi, until I got to the part about the amount of exercise. Corgis are little barely contained bundles of energy that really need to be able to get out and RUN (makes sense, considering they're herding dogs).

And much sympathies about your poor kitty... we went through that a few years ago with our cat Cymry and it was hard on all of us (Rackham, me and the cat), but it's also hard to let go as long as there's hope that things might get better.

[shipperx.livejournal.com]

Corgis are cute, but, while I do have a fenced yard, I know that when I come home in the evening I'll only manage a walk around the block, so a really athletic dog wouldn't be as happy as one of the types that are more suited to brief walks and a little ball play in the yard.

I pretty much know that Carly will never get any better. There's really not 'better'. She just hasn't quite reached the point that I think that euthanasia is preferable. She doesn't eat, but she isn't hungry. She does still drink water and the fluids prevent dehydration, so I think she's okay in this regard. And she still gets up (almost all of the time) to go to the litter box. That said, she's visibly weaker and she is frighteningly thin. But she's in no noticeable pain, so for the time being I'm just pampering her and trying to keep her quality of life as high as it can be under the circumstances.

[shipperx.livejournal.com]

Looking at the goldendoodles nearby and the prices ($1800!) put paid to that even being in consideration.

I have several types that I like, so when the time comes I'll see what's around (there was a cockapoo last month in the local rescue that I would've loved, but I'm just not the that place yet. And it's been adopted now.) So at the end of the day it'll be when I'm legitimately looking rather than just poking around online. And while I'm willing to pay the fees for a dog (rescue adoption or otherwise) I'm really not looking to spend $1800 on a designer dog. I don't demand a purebreed (don't mind them, but it's not a requirement). The breed(ish) preferences are basically associated traits so it's negotiable.

I also want to add a dog door to the outside and turn the corner next to the house into a small protected dog run with metal grate fencing so that the puppy would have a safe place to pee even if I'm not home.

[shipperx.livejournal.com]

Thank you.

[shipperx.livejournal.com]

I've been looking on petfinder (though it's really just curiosity at this point since I don't know precisely when I will be adopting) and at nearby rescues. Any real decision will have to wait.

[nutmeg3.livejournal.com]

Oooh, I love the idea of the dog door opening into a small run. Perfect.

[petzipellepingo.livejournal.com]

You might want to try something like this to at least narrow down your choices. Then, as everyone else points out, go to Petfinder to see what's available. I'd also highly recommend attending a dog show in your area to actually see the various breeds and talk to breeders. There are two in April in your area.

Good luck!

[shipperx.livejournal.com]

It's according to the size of the dog, of course. But since I have a yard guy and my mom and dad come over and garden a lot, I think I'd like something more secure during the day that simply my wood fence, which will work fine as long as I'm outside too but my experience in the past has been its nice if the dog can relieve its bladder outside whenever it needs. I think it's do-able.

And, unfortunately, I think it will be soon. If my girl lives though the night (which at this point is somewhat doubtful), I've decided that this isn't living. She's in no visible distress but her gaze seems fixed. She can't seem to blink (or doesn't realize to) and only occasionally moves at all.

She was refusing to stay in her chair or her ottoman last night and insisted on being in bed with me. She was very weak but still 'there,' you know. .

My mom came over today to stay with her and Mom said that she moved Carly to her chair a few times but Carly would still climb down onto the wood floor (which is where I found her tonight when I came in. Mom had only left and hour before I came home). . At the moment I doubt she's capable of leaving anywhere. She's struggled once or twice to turn around in her bed, but that seems all she's capable of.

Right now I have her in her fleece bed on the floor on a puppy pee pad. But honestly the only sign of life is her breathing and the occasional paw twitch.

My poor baby.

[shipperx.livejournal.com]

Thank you. Nice web site, and I'll see about checking on the shows.

[nutmeg3.livejournal.com]

::hugs:: I'm so, so sorry.

This sounds exactly like Beetle's last night. I already had an appointment to bring him in the next morning, and I was right to have made it. I brought blankets and a pillow down and slept on the living room floor with him. In the morning he was collapsed just outside the kitchen doorway, so still that until he opened his eyes, I thought he was dead. I was so grateful we had that last night, but I knew I was doing him a kindness in letting him go, too.

More ::hugs:: because it's the right thing to do if it comes to it, but it's still so hard.

[shipperx.livejournal.com]

This is the dog I've asked for more information on:
http://www.lastchancedogrescue.com/tiny-buggy-the-schnauzer-mix.html

I'm to speak with the rescuer/foster tonight

[shipperx.livejournal.com]

This is one that I've requested more info on.

http://www.lastchancedogrescue.com/tiny-buggy-the-schnauzer-mix.html

Will see how it goes.

[shipperx.livejournal.com]

I've requested preliminary info on this one.
http://www.lastchancedogrescue.com/tiny-buggy-the-schnauzer-mix.html

She's awfully pretty and the right size. But I do want to know about temperament and health.

[shipperx.livejournal.com]

Thank you. You helped. *hug*

[petzipellepingo.livejournal.com]

Yes, with any doxys or doxy mixs there's always the question of back/spine troubles plus coat care with a Schnauzer mix. They look like very happy dogs so that's always a big plus IMO.

[nutmeg3.livejournal.com]

He's adorable! And he sounds perfect for you, size- and temperament-wise. Good luck tonight. I've got my fingers crossed for good news.

[shipperx.livejournal.com]

Unfortunately, it didn't work out.

She apparently has a habit of escaping her enclosures and I live quite, quite close to a major roadway, which would be dangerous.

And while she's good with the rescuers big dogs, when trying to place her she's snapped at an owners small dog. I have to have a pet that can get along with my sister's 9lb poodle and my mom's 12lb cat (especially the cat) as a fair amount of time will be spent with either/both because, I'm sure that like my sister, when I cannot be home with a dog on a weekend she'll end up at my parents because my retired dad is usually home. And I also go to my parents home every Sunday for dinner. So being 'safe' around Gracie (the cat) and Meggie (the tiny dog) are essential for me.

I'm beginning to consider puppies because that way I can socialize the puppy to be with Gracie with fewer problems (which then facilitates my adopting a cat down the line). Thinking about it, we've never had any behavior problems with any of the dogs we've owned in my family... but we've also always started with puppies. So, while a puppy is challenging, I think it may be a better option. I think that since I live within two miles of my parents, and my Mom has a habit of coming over during the day if for no other reason than to get out of the house, I should be able to deal with a puppy. My parents came over to check on my Carly every. single. day. while she was ill, so I can depend on them to do the same for a puppy. Plus, again, it's probably not a bad thing to give retired parents a non-taxing something to do over the course of the day... and all pets ADORE my dad.

[shipperx.livejournal.com]

Unfortunately it didn't work out. She had a couple of behavior problems that won't work for my situation.

So, still looking...

[nutmeg3.livejournal.com]

A lot of people seem to actively avoid puppies for whatever reason, but I adore them and love starting with a puppy for exactly the reasons you're thinking about. It sounds like you've got the perfect circumstances for one, too. And I can steer you to several excellent lj dog comms when the time comes, no matter what age you end up with.