We want a dog.

And by "We" I mean me and the littles.  My son is 4 my daughter is almost 3.

We have several relatives with dogs, a lot of Staff terriers and I love this breed.  They are wonderful with their families.

My wife never was around dogs much.  I had 4 at one point growing up (a rottie, a lab mix, a schnauzer and a corgi all in the same house at the same time...)  I love dogs (I love cats too, but that's not the issue, we have a wonderful cat).

Anyhow, Mrs Ducatiz is being Dr No and won't agree to it.

Give me some good arguments to get a Staffordshire pup?

1.  they are great with kids
2.  they are easily trainable
3.  i can take her/him to the office with me (it's my office dammit)
4.  it will encourage us to exercise more.
5.  caging?
6.  shedding?

etc

He/she followed me home.  Can I keep him/her?

Quote from: howie on December 22, 2011, 07:34:43 AM
He/she followed me home.  Can I keep him/her?

Better: The kids found it and brought it home, they're really attached to the doggy and it would break their hearts to let it go now... 

Quote from: The Mad King Pepe' on December 22, 2011, 07:44:05 AM
Better: The kids found it and brought it home, they're really attached to the doggy and it would break their hearts to let it go now... 

Better, I'm sure the kids will cooperate

A good lesson in responsibility for the kids, as they learn to care for the dog as they grow up (groom, feed, walk once they're big enough)

Kids will have a lower chance of developing dog allergies later in life



Will defend your home against an invasion of rats?

Quote from: The Mad King Pepe' on December 22, 2011, 07:44:05 AM
Better: The kids found it and brought it home, they're really attached to the doggy and it would break their hearts to let it go now... 

My kids are 3 and 4, if they are out roaming alone, someone (who is supposed to be watching them) is going to get a beating.

maybe take her to a shelter group? The one where I got Marley is Friends of Homeless Animals http://www.foha.org/ They are out past Leesburg and have a nice bit of land. You can go visit the doggies - take them for a walk. they even have an enclosed play pen area where you can let them off leash.

Kinda harder to say no when she sees the kiddos huggin' on and playing with a pooch.

Quote from: Sad Panda on December 22, 2011, 08:05:21 AM
maybe take her to a shelter group? The one where I got Marley is Friends of Homeless Animals http://www.foha.org/ They are out past Leesburg and have a nice bit of land. You can go visit the doggies - take them for a walk. they even have an enclosed play pen area where you can let them off leash.

Kinda harder to say no when she sees the kiddos huggin' on and playing with a pooch.

that's a great idea, leesburg is a bit far but maybe i can borrow a pooch from someone... hmm

the dog was about to be euthanized at the local shelter......how could I say no?  better yet, have you heart? 

Quote from: ducatiz on December 22, 2011, 08:04:20 AM
My kids are 3 and 4, if they are out roaming alone, someone (who is supposed to be watching them) is going to get a beating.

The doggie can follow the three of you home.  "I tried to chase it away, but..."

Quote from: muskrat on December 22, 2011, 09:21:01 AM
the dog was about to be euthanized at the local shelter......how could I say no?  better yet, have you heart? 

that's how we got Othello, our big fat black cat.  I was coming out of work and the NYC animal control had a big stand with a sign "These animals will be euthanized this Friday."

best cat ever.  Loves the kids.  never saw a cat that let a toddler pull him around by his tail.  never complained about anything and still plays like a kitten with them. 

Any Staffordshire shelters around you?

Alas, no.  Plenty of Chihuahua and Pomeranian shelters around here.

i say, just get a new wife thats also a dog lover 

kidding ..being around dogs teaches kids to be less selfish & more loving. it also teaches patience. there will be moments in your kids life that more than likely they will have arguments with the other kids they hang out with & they will feel friendless. if they have a dog, they will always feel like they have a friend. dogs are the playmate kids can feel safe telling all their secrets to.

having pets in general, make people happier. they are mood improvers, as im sure you know.

show her welcomehomeblog.com, specifically the videos of the dogs greeting their owners when theyve come back from deployment. who wouldnt want their child to experience that type of bond & unconditional love?

also, if your relatives have have dogs, are any of them going on vacation anytime soon? offer to dogsit, so she can get an idea of what it would be like to have one full time.

if all else fails, beg... 

Quote from: ducatiz on December 22, 2011, 09:28:00 AM
Alas, no.  Plenty of Chihuahua and Pomeranian shelters around here.

Actually - there's a number. Not dedicated shelters - but some groups and a lot of the shelters have them. I know the Arlington Animal Welfare League regularly has larger Terriers and mixes

'Tiz do you know http://www.petfinder.com/index.html ?