Quote:
> > Have a home-based business. Wife and kids really want a dog.
> > Would be bad if dog barked a lot because I talk to clients on the
> > phone. What dogs are quiet? They want a dalmation. Are they
> > quiet?
My mom has two Dalmations that she rescued as strays--they ARE very high
energy, and they bark a lot. (They are also just plain weird sometimes.) I
don't know what to recommend as a "quiet" breed...some dogs like Basenjis
don't bark, I think, but they make other sounds...I've been lucky to have
dogs that don't bark much or any...one is a hound mix--she never barks, but
howls / bays sometimes. Which is even noisier, but not as annoying to me as
constant barking. My other dog is a Rat Terrier / Chihuahua mix, and she
only barks when someone knocks on the door.
Couple of questions:
First, I am assuming that the business phone is located in a central
location of the house if a dog barking would interfere? No quiet office
corner that can be used?
Second, and more worrisome to me. You said:
"Neighbor's have a semi-aggressive female pit bull mutt. Would a
female or male puppy "mesh" better with it? or is there no
difference?"
Is your prospective dog going to be kept inside the house? Out in the yard?
Is there a fence? Is it a good one? Would this "semi-aggressive" pit bull
have access to your dog in your own yard? What do you mean by
semi-aggressive? Barking, growling, ***, stubborn, or...? I think I
would be worried more about my spouse and kids in this situation, but
regardless, if you are planning on having your dog stay outdoors where an
aggressive dog could harm it, then I would seriously reconsider even getting
a dog at this point. And if their dog is not contained, keeping yours
indoors wouldn't help since you would have to take it for walks.
From my own experience, females are more aggressive with other females, but
maybe someone has more information on this? Either way, have your dog
neutered / spayed...especially if the dog next door is female, depending on
whether she has been spayed, an unaltered male dog at your house would not
make for good neighbors ;)
In general, take everything into consideration. Determine why you want a
dog, who will care for it (children cannot be forced to bear ultimate
responsibility--***s must ensure that the animal is properly cared for),
where it will spend its time, what you will do with it if you travel or
move, and under what circumstances you would decide not to keep this animal.
Also determine what OTHER characteristics you need / want in a dog--size,
activity level, etc...not just appearance. Then if you decide you really
want a dog and can provide what it needs, then maybe check out a local
animal shelter. They have all sorts of dogs, even purebreds at times.
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