[Rabbahpuptiopp]

Okay, super cheesy lame title, but here we go I have two things to talk about and I'm gonna slap 'em in here together.

1. The lady that watches Leon for me, made a comment to me when I picked him up last week... "You should just give him to me, he's never with you anyways." And actually, lots of people make comments about me being gone so much lately... and I won't lie it is true. Fall is a busy time of year for me with traveling and lots of the time Leon can't come, shoot even Maci can't. Thankfully I never thought twice about it because both dog sitters are always eager to have them for as long as need be. We were just gone for 2.5 weeks, and I've been home for 7 days and I leave again Friday for 2.5 weeks. So in a 6-7 week time frame Leon's only been home for about 7-10 days.

I feel bad but that's just my life, and I have made the mistake of re-homing enough dogs because of time restrictions that I am NOT going to do it this time. Things will slow down come Thanksgiving in October and go completely back to normal by Christmas. Does anyone else have a schedule that makes it so your dog spends a week or so a month at a sitter/kennel? And do you feel it's not fair to the dog?

Leon always seems super happy to see me, and is always happy at the sitter's house as he gets tons of attention. He is completely normal coming back home mind you he's always a little more clingy for a few days.

2. We are still looking for another dog to join us after this busy season... it's between a Dobie and a APBT leaning more towards APBT... we are still looking for a good breeder in the Alberta area or Southern BC... it's proving harder to find a good breeder than I intended especially because we are still 5 hours north of the nearest city and I don't have access to attend shows until we move. And this question is ONLY for those of you with dogs whom come from legitimate breeders who health test all around, register their dogs, and arent in it for a buck or two (although i realize you do pay a price for a healthy dog with good lineage) Now where do I start if I cant attend shows... is it rude to message members here that run yards if they are with in reasonable distance from me and ask them questions and ask to visit... I always keep my out on the ADBA for litters or breeders in my area as well... but maybe Im being far too picky because I know what I want lol. How did you guys get your first well bred dog, and why am I finding it so difficult!! haha for this one Id prefer PMs as I know its a touchy subject and people dont like throwing around names or how they found their name... but I am beyond frustrated.

[Bromikka]

1. My sister watches Peanut and yes, sometimes she has had her for several weeks. Peanut loves it there. My sister loves Peanut but is happy to see her go home. I've dogsat for my friends for 6+ weeks at a time. The dogs were fine - I dog sit all the time for them.

[yahyynzer]

Thats my feelings too, Leon and Maci both love their dog sitters... shoot Maci runs ahead of me to get in the door but she is always equally excited to come home. I dont see it as mean or emotionally scarring... I am just doing what I can to keep them and that requires finding a dog sitter or a kennel I trust when they cant come on extended trips! I wish Id quit hearing people say otherwise.

[L0KoxewQ]

2) I came so close to owning a Dobie. Beautiful, smart dogs. But so are ABPTs.

If I had the chance to, I would get a Dobie IMO. LOL But thats a personal preference.

[gkruCRi1]

The thing is, I can't get a second dog because my sister can't watch 2 dogs. She is allergic to Peanut as it is.

[LClan439]

If Leon is happy and not stressed, I don't see an issue with how things are. It's sad he can't see you as much at times but he's got a good home. I don't see what the big deal is though, he's still getting all his needs met, even with you gone.

Though, I am curious, will this sort of thing happen every year?

I am lucky I can fit my dogs in most of my day, every day. I spend most of my time at home. Only time I'm away is when I'm working or I go see a movie/go to the shops/see a friend and I'm still not away from them for a long period of time.

[wrardymar]

And I think you should pick a APBT!

[UFJon]

I think that it is fine, people have to work. You have a person you trust and he loves to watch him. I think that is responsible.

As far as another dog, you may want to wait until you can be home more. I would pick an apbt of the opposite sex of the one you have. I love dobies but they have so many health issues. Even the health tested ones.

[aliceingoogs]

Tahlz/Beth... I have been volunteering full time in exchange to get some help with my residency, I put my two weeks in tomorrow and we are moving so I'll go back to being a full time house wife lol and the next time I do any kind of work it will be getting back into training and photography where I set my own schedule. That's also why I put the search on hold until after Christmas as that givens me December until next August to spend with the dogs... then it'll get busy again with Hunting and Holidays from end of August until October. But it won't be anything like this year. We are looking for a dog that can join us on our hunts, Leon's back leg is too lame for hiking mountains, and Maci is too small. Another reason why I'm leaning towards an APBT I feel they would do better in the Mountains vs. a Dobie...but I love both breeds lol.

Being a couple that hunts, that is just part of our life so yes it is a yearly thing. I'd say from Aug-Oct Leon/Maci will always spend 1/2 of that time with a sitter and 1/2 with us but that's only 2.5 months of it and like I said... they seem just as happy be it with us, or with friends who love them too and can meet their needs. We would have hopes of taking our new dog with us so chances are he or she would spend little to no time at a sitter if he/she could keep up and was healthy enough to be out there with us!

[Inenuedbabnor]

If the dogs are enjoying their time with the sitter... I don't see a problem with it.

As for contacting breeders... no, I don't think it's rude to contact someone whose dogs you like to talk about possibly getting a dog from them in the future.

[arreskslarlig]

I think of the 1st question like I do about dogs outside, if they are used to it and seem happy what is the big deal, my boys are outside and are used to it and seem happy, heck they didn't even get brought in when it was almost 110 out, I didn't want to mess with the acclimation and have them more stressed outside in 90 degree weather...

the second question, I don't think it would be rude to contact people (boogieman already knows I dream of owning a dog from him one day) I think it actually would be a good idea to contact anyone on here that is not to far from you since even if they might not have a yard they might know of one that you can look into, networking is your friend on that note, what about looking at placed when your out of town, like figure out if there is anyone in X city that you travel to and if so try to get in contact with them also

[egexgfczc]

Yeah I kinda see PBC and Facebook as an amazing tool to use for finding a breeder, I mean I can talk to them directly despite not necessarily living close to them, and on facebook a lot of breeder now have their own profile [not page, just profile, where they accept people as friends] and that's a way to kind see pictures and see how they run things on their end.I just figure breeders here on PBC probably get PMs from noobs everyday trying to snag a dog with papers without knowing anything about the dogs themselves or even the breed. So I don't want to be one of THOSE people haha! I have put a lot of effort into building up my knowledge the past three years on and off PBC and so I am want breeders to take me as seriously as I take them and their dogs.