BoyDog and GirlDog are 9 year old rescue dals. BoyDog is the most laid back, loving creature you could imagine. GirlDog is, quite frankly, bonkers. If you told me she was a puppy then I'd believe it.
I have no children so can't comment too much, but they are both wary around the children in our complex. They are so high energy though that I'm not sure how well it'd work. I also have huge respect for anyone who successfully takes on a dal puppy! Our old guys are hard enough.
They walk. Forever if they could. This morning we were out at 5:30am and did 5.8km. When I'm home from work they'll have their mental half hour with tennis balls in the garden, and then another 3-4km walk. Their big walk is 10pm to knacker them out and that's between 6 and 10 km depending how knackered the husband is!
The hair? Everywhere. I have tiled floors throughout and cleaners in 3 times a week and it's still everywhere.
BoyDog is a lovely clever old man. He won't move from my side if I'm home alone after dark.
The only time either of them have snarled or growled is when they were very new to us (3rd home in 6 months, seized from both the other two due to ill treatment) and we had an emergency trip to the vets with GirlDog. BoyDog was so stressed he trashed his bedroom, tore his signed to shreds, and snarled at us when we got back with her. Once he'd seen she was ok, he was fine. Obviously overprotective of his GirlDog.
Agree with a PP though, their loyalty belongs to the highest bidder, who is usually the person who has some form of food.
And they hate being alone. The neighbours say they can't hear them in the day so we assume they're ok with being fully alone, but if they can hear us in another bit if the house they they whine. Wherever I'm sitting, I have BoyDog at my toes.
GirlDogs stomach is very temperamental - she has colitis and is permanently on prescription food after trying many things and everything else (other than chicken and rice) upsetting her stomach
If either of them has had a poo in the garden, I get a one-bark from BoyDog to let me know so I can clear it up.
Oh and yes to the PP about stopping stroking/fussing! GIrlDog will just move to sit next to the next person if you stop fussing her. BoyDog has the big eyes, nose in the air looking all sad at you until you fuss him again
We wanted a nice old dog to come and be lazy with us. Then we found these two. I knew life would change with any dog, but wow - this is something else. All I can say is research, research, research!
Do I regret my decision? Not a chance, they are the two most awesome doggies in the world might be biased. Have I ever regretted it? You betcha. First 2-3 weeks of crying every night because of the hell it seemed (they were both like Velcro to me, we think they had previous mistreatment from a man so DH was left completely alone for 2-3 weeks), and then I cried even more when DH suggested we contact the rescue to see about them goig back (they had a one month minimum settling in period anyway) - even though I was that stressed, nobody was taking them away from me. I don't know if it's easier or if I just cope better, but that's just how hard it is.