So.....The Doberman Has a New Home

[Bob]

I'm a dog guy and I have been without a dog since I had to put down my 14 year old doberman about 3 years ago.   I think I really want to get a dog.   I already have a spare back door that has a dog door for a large dog already installed that I could just pop back in so the dog can go outside while I am not home.  

The problem with getting a dog include:

1.  If I get a puppy, it would spend a LOT of the time by itself while I am at work......not really fair for it.  
2.  My back fence, while offering a nice view of the golf course, is only about 4 feet high and I am afraid a really motivated, althetic dog would jump it chasing down a rabbit or golfer.



So, while mulling this over, I have had two friends at work who have dogs they suddenly need to get rid of for reasons like their son is moving and cannot take the dog with them, they are having a baby and already have a 1 year old and it is just too much, etc.

Anyway, they are looking for homes for.....

1.  2 year old male yellow lab.
2.  4 year old male boxer.
3.  11 month old female boston terrier.

The boston terrier sounds great, but I am not sure it could really handle the dog door so well...... and I'm more of a large dog kind of guy.

The boxer sounds great, but I would have already missed 4 prime years of its life

The lab sounds great, but the only thing that worries me is the fence....... would it be able to jump over it?

What do you guys think?

P.S.   Thinking about calling doberman rescue, but the fence scares me a bit.

[RVR II]

I sense something familiar about that pic.. Something I have not felt since...

I like the Yellow Lab myself of those choices

[Tripe]

Personally I'd go with the Boston.*

However you'd most likely be happiest with the Lab. He's past the puppy stage, he can handle the door but, while they do have high energy,  I've never known a lab or related breed that would vault a fence. Not that they couldn't but it's just not a typical expression of energy for them.

*actually personally I'd take all three but that's how I roll.

[D.B. Barnes]

I love labs, and that looks like a pretty great dog yard. Plus, it's the middle age of the three, so a nice compromise I would think.

Hope all goes well. It'll be great to have a dog again.

[RVR II]

Not sure how difficult it would be to add another 1 - 2 feet atop your existing fence and would there be an issue with your HOA for changing the fence height or replacing the fence altogether

[wurwolf]

1.  If I get a puppy, it would spend a LOT of the time by itself while I am at work......not really fair for it.  

I hear this reasoning occasionally by someone who wants a dog but works, and I have to say that unless you're almost always working 18 hour work days that you shouldn't let that reason stop you from getting a dog. Everyone (unless they're unemployed) works, and that's just a fact of life. Who is really sitting around with their dog all day? What is important is that when you are home you spend time with the dog and give it the love and attention it deserves when you can. Quality over quantity.

That said, I agree with nearly everyone else by saying I think the Lab might be best for you. They're good athletes, but I don't get the sense that they're such great jumpers, you know? Whereas I can totally see the Boxer clearing the shit out of that fence.

[Tripe]

Yeah a boxer will give it a go and, on the second or third attempt if not the first, will succeed.

The Boston will also try it too (being a similar sort of dog) but won't likely succeed ever.

[goflyblind]

move to the yukon and start a sled dog team.

[Bob]

move to the yukon and start a sled dog team.

Hmmmm, I would do that, but I think there probably has already been a shitty Cuba Gooding movie done already.

Status.....

1.  The boston terrier would need some kind of ramp to get up throught he dog door and I really dont want to have to buy a whole new door, dog door set up.   Plus, she apparently is quite the jumper....
2.   The lab has not been neutered, nor house trained and is a good jumper......
3.   The boxer is still the boxer and I think that 4+ years is a bit older than I was looking for.
4.   Filled out an application with Doberman Rescue, so we will see where that takes me.

Stupid ass golf club fence.......

[RVR II]

They won't let you raise the fence another 1-2 feet?

[Bob]

They won't let you raise the fence another 1-2 feet?

Nope, it would upset the golfers so much they would shank everything.

[RVR II]

They won't let you raise the fence another 1-2 feet?

Nope, it would upset the golfers so much they would shank everything.

Golfers are Communists!

[D.B. Barnes]

They won't let you raise the fence another 1-2 feet?

Nope, it would upset the golfers so much they would shank everything.

Golfers are Communists!

Racist nazi communists, with sunscreen.

[Bob]

I can only hope that Doberman Rescue does not reject me...... think of the ego bruising!     Of course, I am probably their dream applicant.

[Tripe]

I don't know what rescues are like in Texas but the experiences we had with rescues are that they tend to view working a lot as a demerit, it shouldn't be but it was, hopefully you have a different experience.