|
|
Post by Katie on Jan 31, 2017 3:00:29 GMT
DH and i have been married 21 years, no kids. We had 2 cats for 14 years but one recently passed away. We have always talked about getting a dog, but our work schedules have prevented it. He drives truck over the road Mon-Fri, and I just last month started working from home 4 days a week (go in 1 day).
Since I am now working at home I've been perusing online looking for a rescue but none seem to be a good fit (or they are $500 and require a fence, which I don't have). I do NOT want a puppy. No patience for that training. I was all set to put my search on hold, when an offer landed in my lap. A 5 year old Golden Retriever (my FAVORITE breed, know them well), female, needs to be housebroken and adjusted to permanently living indoors . She is very quiet and will likely be a couch potato, per the breeder. There is no adoption fee, but she will need to be spayed. (How much is that??)
Soooooo, I got so excited that I jumped at it and told her yes. This is the breed I want, the temperament I want, and it just seemed perfect. DH however is now stressing about the cat. Says she is going to go berzerk (yep, she will), and what ever will we do if she never adapts to having a dog? Right now she is living large and gets free roam of the house, and gets my lap all to herself.
So for those of you who have btdt, can you share your experiences and help me decide whether or not to get this dog? I should add I am looking at a 9 hour drive (one way) to get her.
*update*
We are going to get her! We will be getting a fence this Spring, so until then I am 100% ready to walk her 3+ times per day and get her outside as often as she needs to. The cat will just have to deal.
I appreciate everyone's opinions, truly. We took our time to weigh all the pros and cons, and we feel in our gut this is the right choice. Will be sure to update once we get her, which is in a couple weeks. AND, we are very very excited!!
|
|
|
|
Post by pelirroja on Jan 31, 2017 3:16:45 GMT
You're considering getting a 5 year old dog that needs to be housebroken but you say you have no patience for training?!?! I'm guessing that housebreaking a 5 year old dog is going to take an extraordinary amount of training, isn't it?.
|
|
|
|
Post by LavenderLayoutLady on Jan 31, 2017 3:17:20 GMT
I see big red flags.
For one thing, any doubt means don't. If your dh isn't on board, then any and every thing that doesn't go easily with the dog, you will hear an "I told you so."
Two, the dog isn't housebroken in five years? It will not be an easy project now.
You know your cat will be miserable.
And what if you really can't make it work with the dog? Are you going to/able to/welcome to drive the nine hours to return her?
I would listen to that little voice inside my head that's mentioning the doubts.
|
|
|
|
Post by Katie on Jan 31, 2017 3:20:49 GMT
She is *mostly* housebroken because when she has puppies they do keep her in the house. She will just need some fine tuning and reinforcement. Golden's are smart smart dogs - this issue isn't the big concern for me...it's mostly just about the cat.
ButI have to admit, re-reading my first post it does seem glaringly obvious that this is not an ideal situation. Boooo!
|
|
Deleted
Posts: 0
Aug 18, 2025 19:32:19 GMT
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 31, 2017 3:25:25 GMT
Run
A 5 year old un sprayed, not housebroken dog is not a good dog to have, if you are not ready to spend a lot time training.
|
|
|
|
Post by LavenderLayoutLady on Jan 31, 2017 3:25:28 GMT
Is this a healthy dog?
How many litters of pups has she had?
And what will you do if she scares your cat, goes after her, your cat starts peeing in the house out of retaliation, etc?
|
|
Deleted
Posts: 0
Aug 18, 2025 19:32:19 GMT
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 31, 2017 3:28:42 GMT
I paid $500 for our dog to be spayed. I can't remember what they did but it is a better type of spay.
|
|
|
|
Post by mom on Jan 31, 2017 3:29:58 GMT
The fact you don't have a fence would be reason enough for me not to get a Golden Retriever. And then add on the fact she isn't trained? No way. And yes, I would have worries about your cat as well since she has only been around another cat (and not a dog).
I urge you to really think this through. Just because the breeder is saying it will be a couch potato doesnt mean she will be. Huge red flags in my opinion.
|
|
|
|
Post by Katie on Jan 31, 2017 3:33:34 GMT
Is this a healthy dog? How many litters of pups has she had? And what will you do if she scares your cat, goes after her, your cat starts peeing in the house out of retaliation, etc? Healthy dog, has had 3 litters. Yes, the scaring, peeing issues is what I'm suddenly envisioning. |
|
Belle
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,309 
|
Post by Belle on Jan 31, 2017 3:33:43 GMT
I don't think the cat will be an issue. There will probably be a few hisses the first few days but, in most cases, they should both adapt. Our cat was an "only pet" for 6 years before we rescued our dog, who was 2 years old so not a puppy. Of course, some dogs are not good with cats so you would need to ask about that and do an introduction to see how the dog reacts to the cat.
That said.........
I would not adopt a 5 year old dog that was not house broken especially a large dog. Cleaning up dog urine and poop gets old really, really fast and can be costly if you have to replace carpeting.
|
|
|
|
Post by mom on Jan 31, 2017 3:36:44 GMT
I guess you have to clue me in - do you plan on taking it for a walk every time it needs to go to the restroom? You cant let it out in your back yard without a leash since you have no fence.
|
|
|
|
Post by mcscrapper on Jan 31, 2017 3:46:26 GMT
I agree with the above posters. I don't think this is the right dog for you.
First of all, a five year old dog that needs some house training is not going to be easy. It sounds like she has just been used as breeding stock and that's about it. No thanks.
Secondly, not all golden are smart. I've seen plenty that are dumb as a brick.
Thirdly, a dog of that size NEEDS a fenced in yard. Keeping a dog of that size inside all of the time is not fair to the dog. Period. She needs space to roam around and stretch her legs.
Lastly, three liters of pups for a 5 year old b!tch is quite a bit of breeding. I'd be very concerned about her overall health and longevity.
I'd run FAR away from this bog AND the breeder.
|
|
|
|
Post by Zee on Jan 31, 2017 3:51:54 GMT
Nine hours is a long drive, and if she doesn't work out, would they be willing to take her back? You'll have to always be with her on a leash outside, with no fence, at least until she knows her home and isn't a wandering dog (my dog never left her yard, just went and did her business and came back to be let in,but she was the exception rather than the rule). Maybe an invisible fence would be an option for you?
The cat might do just fine, our cats ruled the roost when we got our yellow lab and they made it clear it was their house. She never challenged them, but you're dealing with a dog of uncertain temperament. She might be great, so that alone wouldn't deter me.
You have to be ready to train and socialize this dog, and that's no light undertaking. I had to do that with my lab when we got her (she was around a year old and had been picked up as a stray). She had no indoor manners, was only partially potty trained, didn't know how to walk on a leash, didn't really know commands, etc. I did get to see her interact with cats at the shelter, and she was passive with them so I felt my cats would be ok.
She was a lot of work, but very worth it in the end. I wouldn't want to do it if I wasn't ready to train her and if I didn't have a place for her to go to if she didn't work out with the cat.
|
|
|
|
Post by JustCallMeMommy on Jan 31, 2017 3:52:58 GMT
I'd be more concerned about the fence than the cat. Goldens are sweet and loving, but they are big and need to stretch their legs. You'll be taking her for a lot of long walks (jogs) without it.
|
|
|
|
Post by worrywart on Jan 31, 2017 4:20:21 GMT
I do not know if this is the right dog for you. Here is what I do know. When you do get a dog, there will probably be days, hours, weeks that you second guess yourself and know that you made a mistake. There will be times that you wish that you did not get a dog and you wonder why you did. You will probably consider giving the dog back and fantasize about your old life with no dog.
Then one day you will realize that you aren't doing that anymore and that you miss your dog when you are away and that your dog brings a spark of something into the house. You will wonder what you did without him/her and be grateful that you took the plunge.
Good luck. I hope that you can find a dog to fit your family. They really can be a lot of fun and a great addition.
|
|
LeaP
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,939
Location: Los Angeles, CA where 405 meets 101
|
Post by LeaP on Jan 31, 2017 4:22:49 GMT
Dogs are a lot of work. They also need a lot more human attention than cats. My neighbor adopted a rescue dog from a puppy mill and he had never walked on grass. It took a lot of training to get him to be a pet.
Cleaning up after a dog gets old fast. My girls rescued an unfixed dog that marked and pooed in the house. My idiot dog (previously perfectly housetrained) followed him around and marked over every spot and added his own deposit next to every poo. That lasted two days before the rescue guy went to a rescue group. It was like living in an episode of hoarders.
Based on what you describe, I would patiently wait for a dog that has been raised in a home as a pet.
|
|
|
|
Post by AussieMeg on Jan 31, 2017 4:39:49 GMT
Not having a fence is the biggest problem IMO. GRs are big dogs and they need to be able to go outside. I can't imagine keeping one in the house all the time and then having to take him outside every time he needs to go to the toilet.
|
|
|
|
Post by Eddie-n-Harley on Jan 31, 2017 4:42:08 GMT
Is your remaining cat 14 years old? I personally not might worry about my cat, anticipating a 15 year life span anyway. (Yeah, I know they can live longer, but the range is 12-18 years, according to Google.)
What would concern me is their assertion that she's likely to be a couch potato. I thought retrievers are working dogs, which means they need to burn off lots of energy. Which means they need to be outside a lot. And if it's not in a fenced in yard, it's with you on a leash.
|
|
|
|
Post by sunnyd on Jan 31, 2017 4:46:48 GMT
Aww..I'm sorry to be part of the "don't do it" crowd. All I needed to read was your title to decide that. If you are conflicted I would wait. Plus if you are worried about the fee to spay, that is nothing compared to the next 10 years of vaccines, unknown future medical bills, boarding if you ever go out of town, food, supplies, etc. How old is your cat?
|
|
scrapngranny
Pearl Clutcher
Only slightly senile
Posts: 4,948
|
Post by scrapngranny on Jan 31, 2017 5:48:23 GMT
Why are they getting rid of her? Does she have any health issues, has she been checked out by a vet? I see a lot of possible issues with this dog. She might be a great do, but she might take a lot of work to become the pet you want. Rescues come with baggage that you have to be willing to either live with or spend the time to change behaviors.
I've had three rescues, who were all loving good dogs, but they all had issues and behaviors we had to work through and some that we just had to accept. We have a very sweet retriever that hid under the bed for 6 months. Gaining her trust was a long slow process, worth every minute of the work, but not easy.
|
|
Deleted
Posts: 0
Aug 18, 2025 19:32:19 GMT
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 31, 2017 11:33:30 GMT
I know you are concerned about the cost of spaying her. Dogs and any pet can cost a lot. You have to be prepared for those unexpected things that happen. For instance, in October, one of our little guys had to have surgery on his leg. This ordeal just ended two weeks ago and cost us $10K!!! Thankfully we can afford it but it wasn't expected for sure.
Also a dog that large needs a fence to run. I also have two large breed dogs and a fence. Wouldn't be without one. Here is our daily schedule:
7:30 a.m. Start jogging and walking each dog. Takes over an hour each day.
9:30 a.m. Out to play in the back yard.
11:00 a.m. Out to play again.
Lunch/nap
3:00 p.m. Out to play again.
Dinner/downtime
They still could even use more exercise and play time. We have a trainer that comes to the house on occassion too. He will be here tomorrow in fact. They also go to daycamp for fun (7 a.m.-4 p.m.) a few times a month. If I am going to be gone all day, they go to daycamp for sure because they can't be bored all day in the house. I feed them 3x a day because of the risk of bloat in large breeds. They are not dogs that chill or hang out. On our walk/jog each day we always run into our friend who has a Golden. She is FULL of energy and needs tons of exercise too. Just thought you might like to see a bit of a schedule with a large breed dog. Best wishes in your decision.
|
|
|
|
Post by AN on Jan 31, 2017 12:08:29 GMT
Don't get this dog. While you're waiting for your perfect dog to come along, do some dog sitting - preferably 4+ days in a row.
10 days of dog sitting a 6 month old guide dog in training cured me of wanting my own at that point in time. And that was an amazing, well-trained, sweet as all get out dog (although there is some extra work associated with guide puppies). I want my own dog at some point down the line, but that was enough to help me put it on the back burner awhile.
Or! You might see your cat chills out and your routines adapt easily, and then you can proceed looking for the right dog. I don't think a 5 year old that is moderately house broken is the right one. You say they're smart, but they're also stubbon, and breaking old habits can be harder than training new ones.
|
|
|
|
Post by elaine on Jan 31, 2017 12:32:06 GMT
I wouldn't consider getting anything larger than a small dog without a fenced yard. Having to get up and clip on a leash and walk her in the middle of the night when she needs to do her business - occasionally all dogs have a bout with stomach issues - gets old very quickly. It is much easier on everyone when you can just go downstairs and let her out in the backyard, and then let her back in.
Since she has had more than two heats, her risk for developing mammary cancer is over 25% - so be aware that surgery and treatment for cancer in a dog left unspayed this long may very well needed.
That said, I can't imagine life without a dog. They are true companions, not simply pets.
|
|
Belle
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,309
|
Post by Belle on Jan 31, 2017 15:48:24 GMT
The PERFECT dog is out there! Give it a little more time.
|
|
smartypants71
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,992
Location: Houston, TX
|
Post by smartypants71 on Jan 31, 2017 15:56:06 GMT
I just recently adopted a rescue German Shepherd in November. My cat is 6 and it has been extremely stressful to him introducing a dog into the house. I would never consider doing that to a 14yo cat. I have had to restrict the dog from my 3rd floor, and my cat has the 3rd floor to himself. Both my mom and my aunt have goldens, and it took each of their cats between 1-2 YEARS to get used to the dog.
My dog IS potty trained, but I only have a very small fenced yard (I live in a patio home). I take him for a walk 3 times a day, 1 being a long walk of about 2-3 miles. It's definitely a big commitment, especially if you are not used to having a dog at all.
|
|
mallie
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,253
|
Post by mallie on Jan 31, 2017 16:26:14 GMT
I don't want to sound mean, but if you can't afford to spay the pet, you can't afford the pet. Unexpected health problems and accidents can occur at any time.our dog hurt his eye a month after we got him. The vet visits and meds were over $450. And there was simply not an option but to care for his eye properly.
|
|
bethany102399
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,859
|
Post by bethany102399 on Jan 31, 2017 16:28:42 GMT
I can tell you we spent just under $500 to neuter George in October. He had to have some other stuff done while he was out so we had to do it at the vets office. There is a spay/neuter not for profit here in town that is MUCH cheaper.
My big concern is the lack of fence. Especially with a golden, you NEED a fence for that big of a dog. The cat will adjust.
|
|
|
|
Post by elaine on Jan 31, 2017 16:42:35 GMT
The cost of spaying the dog will be more than the $500 rescue adoption fee for an already spayed/neutered dog. Spaying here is $600-$800.
And again, you would have a 1-in-4 chance of dealing with cancer since she hasn't been spayed before 2 heats.
|
|
smartypants71
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,992
Location: Houston, TX
|
Post by smartypants71 on Jan 31, 2017 16:48:19 GMT
And yikes to spaying cost! Our low-cost option here is $115 for an adult dog over 60 pounds.
|
|
freebird
Drama Llama
'cause I'm free as a bird now
Posts: 6,927
|
Post by freebird on Jan 31, 2017 16:48:41 GMT
I'd do it. Clearly this dog needs a loving home, and I'm pretty sure you're it. SOMEONE needs to train her, spay her and not use her for a breeding machine. I think you're the one.  The cat will adapt. Mine did - and they really didn't like dogs at all. when we got the second dog it was barely a blip in the cats lives. |
|
_on_the_beach.jpg)
