Adopted a dog today
 

My girlfriend has been searching for a Mini Schnauzer for the last 5 years and recently a friend of hers that works with shelters in central FL has been sending her listings of dogs she has found. I've had Megan fwd these to me since I am usually free to go check them out and see the dog and make calls since her job makes it difficult to do so.

She sent me a listing this morning from the orange county animal services of a 1 year old female mini schnauzer. I call and as I am backing out of the garage the lady on the phone said no one has put an application in for her. I get to the shelter in 20 minutes so I can check the dog out. I find its cage and whistle for it and it comes right to me with its tail wagging and a happy face.

I have it taken out to the interaction area so I can check her out. Now this dog has only been in the shelter for 12-24 hours so everything is new to her. the first 5 minutes or so there she is more interested smelling things and exploring but eventually she notices me and interacts a bit. Very calm and sweet.

I was approved to adopt her and $55 later she's mine. Now we wait until the 7 day holding period is up and then they spay, give her shots, and chip her and we can take her home.

Tomorrow we're going back so Megan can check the dog out herself and approve of it or not.

I've been reading a lot about this breed for some time now and I think the only reason why she was very calm and not super interactive while I had her outside is because its that breeds nature to be like that until the leader (the human) welcomes the guests and the dog then sees that the person is ok to interact with. Very intelligent breed I assume.

we'll see how tomorrow goes. I like the dog and think she's going to be a nice addition.

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they cut all of her matted hair off.

aww it's cute

Nobody knows............ the troubles she's seen............ nobody knows her ....... sorrows ........... :D

Congrats! My wife wants to get a dog too.

But after just having moved in, I think we'll have to fix the new house first :D

What's the dog's name?

We haven't figured that out yet.

More important, does the dog approve of you?

I fully expect it to be a gratifying experience for the both of you. A person that cares enough for an animal to share their excitement with others has the right attitude for being the caretaker of a pet.

Cute dog! Make sure you share the name after you come up with it.

She has named her, Lily.

That fits! Take care of her and she'll reward you.

All the best!:)

Schnauzers are great dogs. Me ex-wife had one. Her father told me that if I took her I had to take the dog too!:D No problem. Sporty was a great dog and a wonderful pet. . IIRC, schnauzers generally live a long life. Ours lived 17years.

Good luck.

congrats on adopting a companion animal!

Start watching dog whisperer if available in your area and you currently do not. It really expanded my knowledge of training dogs. Previously I thought I was fairly good at it.

One of our two dogs even asks to go on the treadmill now. It seems pretty funny to some people when they are in the house visiting. I suspect they thought he was asking to go out. The guy was totally right. Reduce the energy with exercise and they will absorb almost any concept. No he cannot do a song and dance routine yet. Still it is amazing how much he has learnt in the recent period.

I think the opposite sex have a secret progam man whisperer they follow. Actually in jest a woman we know was complaining about money reciently. I suggested writing a book called man whisperer might enrich her.

After reflecting on it it really may not have been a bad ideal. If that did not sell no book would in my opinion. :D

Adopting an animal, any animal, should be a lifetime commitment. Hopefully you realize this and are in a position to be able to care for the animal it's entire life, not just as long as it suits your fancy. The reason shelters are loaded to the gunnels isn't so much because people fail to spay and neuter, it's because they think it'd be cute to have a dog or kitten and aren't prepared emotionally or financially for the long haul.
I don't mean to sound like Debbie Downer. It's a cute dog, good luck with it and thanks for adopting rather than spending a fortune at some puppy mill.

Nice dog, good luck with her.

Yes they are a commitment for their lifetimes. Right now we are possibly approaching the final event with one of our dogs. He has a heart condition that responded to treatment for quite some time. Enlarged heart pressing against the esophagus.

Some of the symptoms are starting to appear again. As I type this I just heard him coughing a little again in the background. He has always been an excellent addition to the family. I will go out of my way to make absolutly certain he will get a double dose of what he likes to do the most this weekend and forward. This is primarily extra long exploritory walks with no leash. He has a whole very large area he likes to examine intensley for any changes since the last time we covered it.

All good things come to an end unfortunatly. I am hoping he can get past the present to spend his possible remaining time at the cottage this summer. The next couple of days may tell the story.

His medication has been increased somewhat with no effect unless it takes some time to work. We have had dogs for all of our lives. I get no enjoyment out of the final stages other than I will not let them suffer too long if there is no quality of life left.

What has always bothered me a lot is in our society our dogs are treated better than children in some impoverished societies. Actually starving to death. There is something not right about this piciure.

.I am aware as far as is known they have no concept of death as only man has. If true this might be a nice upside. The other dog knows he is having issues I noticed as well. They play every day in a reasonable fashion that the newer dog initiates. He has stopped initiating the play three days ago.

I questioned the wisdom of aquireing another dog awhile back at our ages. It is a reasonable assumption that he will probably outlive us. I have no concerns now as anyone that wanted a really good gentle friendly intelligent robust dog with common sense would line up to get this fellow.

He is substantially burmese mountain dog with a slight mix of another breed that we have not been able to identify yet. A now about 1 1/2 year old shelter aquisition with no history as well. Other than the area he was picked up in.

Unfortunatly he stands to lose his best friend maybe very soon. I hope not but it may be what it is. I am not too sad because he had a really good life in my opinion. I am certain if he had free choice he still would have lived his life pretty well as he did.