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Post by Hamsters82 on May 20, 2009 12:08:33 GMT -4
Years ago we all wanted a dog but couldn't find one and the shelters near us housed only Lab or Pit bull mixes. So my brother asked for a hamster and we got our dwarf Harriet, who had seven and we kept two. After them came Sophie, than Chewie. For some reason Chewie's death was the hardest and I wanted an animal that would live longer than just two years, so the search for dogs began again. I looked up hypoallergenic ones (as my father and I are allergic) and one breed in particular caught our eye, the Coton de Tulear (pronounced as Coo-ton--rhymes with futon--day-tool-lay-are). They are a rare breed originally from Madagascar that moved to France and then in the US in the 1970's. They're cute, don't have an undercoat (have hair not fur), don't shed when they're adults, and have an A+ personality. We found someone in Pennsylvania that breeds them and they just had a litter which was scheduled to go home the 17th of May. We quickly contacted them and were put on the list. We visited them two weeks ago and picked out an adorable white puppy who has tan ears. We're going to call him Luke and we've been puppy proofing the house and have been going to PetsMart. He's coming home tomorrow at around 5pm, but we're picking him up at 3pm. We'll make sure they groom him the same way a Bichon is cut as we don't want that long fur; he'll be ten weeks old and his vet appointment is on Friday. If you're unsure what a Coton de Tulear is, look here: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coton_de_TulearSo because of this I won't be on as frequently as I sometimes am, but I will try to come on. This is so exciting and I may ask you all some dog questions whenever they arise. So Luke is coming home and we can't wait!!! ;D ;D ;D |
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Post by pinky on May 20, 2009 18:04:45 GMT -4
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Post by Die Fledermaus on May 21, 2009 0:49:45 GMT -4
>> We visited them two weeks ago and picked out an adorable white puppy who has tan ears << So that was your "acquaintance" in Pennsylvania.   Why the hell is Robin posting photos of your dog??  Was this the same breeder you referenced some months ago? The tan ears is a nice touch. He looks too cute to be real! >> I won't be on as frequently as I sometimes am << Just when you have many details to report! Keep him away from other dogs when you walk him at first; beware aggressive strangers! Anyway, congratulations.  We expect photos of you and Luke together. Be sure to let him lick your ice cream cone. ;D |
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Post by pinky on May 21, 2009 9:10:07 GMT -4
Why the hell is Robin posting photos of your dog?? Why the hell does this bother you?? Because Katie sent me the photos, and since I know she struggles with posting photos I offered to post them. |
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Post by Hamsters82 on May 21, 2009 10:52:38 GMT -4
So that was your "acquaintance" in Pennsylvania. ^Yes I didn't want to tell anyone where I was going. Why the hell is Robin posting photos of your dog?? ^Because I sent her the pictures and she was kind enough to put them up for me since I still don't know how to do it. Quite frankly, to put it nicely, I was sick of you saying "breeder this/that and you should rescue" (see more details in the pm I sent you). Just as I tell you things, I tell Robin things as well. So don't be mean to her, if you're angry at someone, be angry with me. Was this the same breeder you referenced some months ago? ^No, a different one. That one never wrote back. He looks too cute to be real! ^Yes, Mom said he looks like a gund. He really is cute and we can't wait to get him; time changed we'll be meeting at 3pm. Keep him away from other dogs when you walk him at first; beware aggressive strangers! ^Until he is 16wks old (that's at the end of June) he can't socialize much because he doesn't have all of his shots. Anyway, congratulations. We expect photos of you and Luke together. ^Thank you.  Be sure to let him lick your ice cream cone. ^Ah that's the thing I was going to tell you; even the Coton book said not to let your dog lick you or you to kiss him because parasites could be passed through. And I again thank Robin for putting the pictures up there!! |
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Post by Die Fledermaus on May 21, 2009 13:21:29 GMT -4
>> Be sure to let him lick your ice cream cone. ^Ah that's the thing I was going to tell you; even the Coton book said not to let your dog lick you or you to kiss him because parasites could be passed through. << TWAJ  Yea, puppies are like that. I am also well aware they also potentially have worms - common to puppies; so common that this was the main reason about thirty years or so ago there was a big movement in NYC to demand people clean up after their dogs, which now is common, and to keep dogs off certain grassy areas of playgrounds: kids were getting sick. Yes, long ago no one picked up after their dog, and earlier than that there were large number of horses too. Imagine the mess, and flies.  Looks like I have been out of the loop on much of this dog stuff. Well, I can read about it on RR. |
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Post by Hamsters82 on May 23, 2009 13:18:52 GMT -4
Well Luke has been a doll and loves to be near us! He is just a bundle of joy and learns very quickly. He had his first vet visit yesterday and while he had a bad reaction to what was inside of the needle, he fell asleep in the vet room. So I think he was fine there.
He whines a lot which is understandable and doesn't eat that much. I'm figuring it's because he's still getting used to his new environment.
Other than that he's great and loves to play, chew, sleep, and just have fun. He cocks his head which is adorable and has this cute, little strut about him when he walks. He sleeps in the oddest positions sometimes, but he's a cutie-pie!
He's due back to the vet within three weeks for another booster shot and on July 4th, he'll be 16wks old and then we can socialize him more and take him for walks!! Can't wait, well I'd better get downstairs and eat before Josh's girlfriend visits him.
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Post by Die Fledermaus on May 23, 2009 17:03:38 GMT -4
>> he had a bad reaction to what was inside of the needle, he fell asleep in the vet room. << That must have been scary! >> He whines a lot which is understandable and doesn't eat that much. << Maybe he misses his brother? Or is that a sister in that photo? How much should he eat being small? What WAS he eating? Have you changed the diet? I assume the breeder is there to answer questions and give support. So Josh is still there! We await photos of all this. One day I want to see him snarling and showing teeth looking tough. Where does he sleep? A dog house outside? ;D Ever hear of the old trick about putting in a ticking alarm clock in with a puppy? Be sure it does not ring, though. Me? Made a very useful discovery today, but am not sure where to put it. . . I think the General forum. |
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Post by Hamsters82 on May 27, 2009 1:15:18 GMT -4
That must have been scary! ^It was, but the vet was very good and he's fine now. Maybe he misses his brother? Or is that a sister in that photo? ^Brother, and I just found out that the brother's name is Pinky. I thought of you Robin right away! How much should he eat being small? What WAS he eating? Have you changed the diet? ^He gets one and one in a half hand fulls of Iams food. We may change his diet but are not sure yet. Where does he sleep? ^Right now he sleeps downstairs in a crate. He isn't too keen on it as he whines, but he'll slowly get used to it. Ever hear of the old trick about putting in a ticking alarm clock in with a puppy? ^Yes as it makes the sound of the mother's heartbeat. We don't' have that type of clock right now so we put the radio on and leave a little nightlight on. 2hrs till I take him out to go potty.....must get some sleep!! |
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Post by Die Fledermaus on May 27, 2009 14:19:00 GMT -4
lol Pinky! You've seen videos of cute small little dogs sort of trained to snarl and look vicious. Everyone thinks it's hilarious. He is lonely in the crate? Everyone else is upstairs, or did not Josh sleep downstairs? >> So we put the radio on and leave a little nightlight on. << Sports radio or politics? Or does he prefer music - Urban Contemporary? I always thought a metronome would work; we had one here, until one day it vanished - something I noticed years later. I assume dear old dad dumped it in one of his compulsive escapades. I assume he eats puppy food. What else?! |
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Post by Hamsters82 on May 28, 2009 15:37:11 GMT -4
He is lonely in the crate?
^We think this yes because his brothers/sister isn't there with him and it's his first time in a crate such as ours.
or did not Josh sleep downstairs?
^Josh rarely comes anymore unless he's with his gf if you know what I mean.
Sports radio or politics?
^Classical music and then some Christian talking in between.
I assume he eats puppy food. What else?!
^Yes he eats puppy food until he is one year old. Nothing else, just Iams dry food, both the breeder and our vet said wet food isn't the best for them and could cause problems.
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Yea, puppies are like that. I am also well aware they also potentially have worms - common to puppies; so common that this was the main reason about thirty years or so ago there was a big movement in NYC to demand people clean up after their dogs, which now is common, and to keep dogs off certain grassy areas of playgrounds: kids were getting sick. Yes, long ago no one picked up after their dog, and earlier than that there were large number of horses too. Imagine the mess, and flies. 