Rachel Ann

I've a question for all regarding pets. My daughter desperately wants a
pet for herself, something she can cuddle with a night, small enough to pick
and, one that is active enough to play with her, but not wildish temperament
And that could take the heat of Israel....We will probably purchase the
animal in Israel at this point. Any suggestions where we could go to
research? For a number of years she had her heart set on a rabbit, but we
just couldn't afford it at the time, and now she isn't sure of a rabbit
anyway. I'm really looking for a place on the internet we could search
together, but a suggestion of a pet is fine also.

Thanks for the ideas folks!

be well,
Rachel Ann





[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[email protected]

My son has a rabbit. They CAN be cuddly and they are very smart. He found
a lot of info on the net before he got the rabbit, he did all sorts of
research. A small dog also seems like a good choice, or a cat. But really,
pets are a lot like people, the have thier own personalities and its
difficult to determine how they will interact with thier owner. Good luck
in your search.. OH.. be sure to check out adoption alternatives for your
pet. There are also lots of resources online for pet adoption. You can
save some $$ and also save an animal.

Teresa


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[email protected]

Hamsters are native Israelis!!
Emily highly recommends them.
Elissa


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Fetteroll

on 12/19/02 8:24 AM, grlynbl@... at grlynbl@... wrote:

> OH.. be sure to check out adoption alternatives for your
> pet. There are also lots of resources online for pet adoption. You can
> save some $$ and also save an animal.

I'd second what Teresa said. Personality is a big factor. Purebreeds are
often breed for specific traits and temperatments so if you go that route
you stand a better chance of getting a particular type of personality. But
there's still the chance factor. So some good books or websites on cats or
dogs should give you some ideas about the temperaments of the various
breeds. (My daughter suggests rag doll and ocicat as two to look at.)

If you adopt an older pet you can pick by personality. A good shelter could
give you some ideas about the personalities of the ones they have. If you
get friendly with the volunteers they might keep an eye out for a particular
personality.

Joyce

[email protected]

In a message dated 12/19/02 5:19:44 AM Pacific Standard Time,
hindar@... writes:


> We will probably purchase the
> animal in Israel at this point.

Depending on how long you will be there I would wait, if you bring the animal
back they will be in lock down quarantine for 6 months when you come to the
us. At least this is what it was years ago when we came back from Taiwan.

Heidi


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Theresa J Allison

Hi Rachel,

Petfinder.org is a clearing house for all pet adoption agencies online
and has an interactive questionaire to find out what kind of pet is best
for you...good luck!

Theresa
CA

On Thu, 19 Dec 2002 08:15:35 -0500 (Eastern Standard Time) Rachel Ann
<hindar@...> writes:

I've a question for all regarding pets. My daughter desperately wants a
pet for herself, something she can cuddle with a night, small enough to
pick
and, one that is active enough to play with her, but not wildish
temperament
And that could take the heat of Israel....We will probably purchase the
animal in Israel at this point. Any suggestions where we could go to
research? For a number of years she had her heart set on a rabbit, but
we
just couldn't afford it at the time, and now she isn't sure of a rabbit
anyway. I'm really looking for a place on the internet we could search
together, but a suggestion of a pet is fine also.

Thanks for the ideas folks!

be well,
Rachel Ann





[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]


~~~~ Don't forget! If you change topics, change the subject line! ~~~~

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[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Mary Bianco

If you are thinking of adoption, which I think is wonderful. make sure you
don't also rule out older dogs or cats. Most are already housebroken and in
need of a loving home. You already know their size and all too. Most
shelters, at least I would hope, try to find out about the dogs they are
adopting out. And if you adopt a puppy, try to find out exactly what's in
it. My sister adopted the cutest little black dog once and named her Pixie.
Well Pixie ended up being 65lbs. Not exactly what they had in mind.

Mary B


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[email protected]

In a message dated 12/19/02 3:13:26 PM, mummyone24@... writes:

<< And if you adopt a puppy, try to find out exactly what's in
it. >>

Our neighbor's puppy visited the other day and deposited some of what had
been in it on our carpet.


Our neighbors have a puppy they're neglecting and when it gets loose from
where it's tied in the back yard, we invite it in to play and get hugged and
petted and taught "down." It's a cool dog. Then we let it back out when
they're due to get home. Holly's worried that Christmas vacation we won't
know their schedule well enough to "share" their dog!

Sandra

[email protected]

In a message dated 12/19/2002 9:53:25 AM Central Standard Time,
fetteroll@... writes:

> I'd second what Teresa said. Personality is a big factor. Purebreeds are
> often breed for specific traits and temperatments so if you go that route
> you stand a better chance of getting a particular type of personality. But
> there's still the chance factor. So some good books or websites on cats or
> dogs should give you some ideas about the temperaments of the various
> breeds. (My daughter suggests rag doll and ocicat as two to look at.)
>

If you go to <A HREF="www.purina.com">www.purina.com</A>, you can use the breed selector to help you
choose a breed of dog that might fit your personality and lifestyle.

Tuck


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[email protected]

In a message dated 12/20/2002 5:08:22 AM Eastern Standard Time,
tuckervill@... writes:
> If you go to <A HREF="www.purina.com">www.purina.com</A>, you can use the breed selector to help you
> choose a breed of dog that might fit your personality and lifestyle.

And go to a dog show. Look around. Find a few that you like the look
of---height, coat-length, face-shape, etc. Then talk to the breeders in
depth. Ask why you SHOULDN'T get one---what are the bad points of the breed.
They ALL have them (although of course there are always exceptions within
each breed), but they all share commonalities (we've bred them that way).

When you find one you like, talk to several breeders of that breed. Go online
and research. Visit two or three kennels (without a purchase in mind). Look
at puppies, adults, and geriatrics. Observe them in the house (are they
quiet? do they settle down? do they stand on your head or on the dining room
table?) and outside (do they stick close or wander far from the breeder? if
there were no fence would they roam?).

Look at the WHOLE dog, not just one thing. Some folks have gotten Basenjis
because they don't bark (and ONLY because they don't bark). This is NOT your
average dog. Unless you know what else comes with the package, you'll be VERY
disappointed.

Folks have bought Shar Peis because of the cute wrinkles. They outgrow them! <
g>

Many people say labs/goldens are the perfect pet. I could NEVER live with
one. Too needy. Just because "everybody" has one, doen't mean they're right
for you.

Many---no, MOST people spend more time looking to buy a car (the average
"lifespan" is 5 years) than they do a living, breathing, feeling dog (who
will be a part of their family for 15 or more years). They'll debate ad
nauseum whether they should get leather or cloth, sun roof or not, blue or
green. But they'll walk into a pet store or a shelter and pick out the puppy
that runs up to them first or has the cutest eyes. It's a life-long
commitment. It shouldn't be made on the spur of the moment.

~Kelly, soapboxing, but serious


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[email protected]

In a message dated 12/20/02 8:42:26 AM Eastern Standard Time,
kbcdlovejo@... writes:

> Many people say labs/goldens are the perfect pet. I could NEVER live with
> one. Too needy. Just because "everybody" has one, doen't mean they're right
>
> for you.
>

We have a yellow lab name Joy.. And, she IS a joy :-) She's not needy at
all.. But she does have a LOT of energy, and labs tend to stay in the "puppy"
stage longer than other breeds. Joy is one year old and actually, shes not
as hyper as we expected her to be. This is just another example of pet
personality. Even among breeds that are supposed to have certain traits or
qualities, there is always room for personality differences. The breed
thats is supposed to most loyal might turn out to be the dog that doesnt give
a flip about where his food comes from and long as he gets it.. LOL.. And,
the breed that is supposed to be a ferocious gaurd dog might end up lying on
the sofa letting burgulars ramsack your house.. And, the sweet little lap dog
might end up being the one that bites your neighbor in the crotch.. A person
searching for a pet should do research on breeds and traits and dispositions
of dogs. At least it gives you a basis for making a decision. But, in the
end, its just the luck of the draw what "kind" of dog you end up with.. We
certainly got lucky with Joy.. she is a real sweetie.

Teresa


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Rachel Ann

Thank you all for your suggestions, but:

I need to add something here...since I see a lot of people are suggesting a
dog.
We have family pets already, one dog, one cat (dogs a basset hound...one of
the best types for kids, imho.) What my Esther is looking for is her own,
just mine, pet. The one she can take into bed with her at night (she sleeps
on a bunk bed) who'll be her friend when she needs a friend.. etc. etc.
Dogs and cats are pretty much out, I think, in her mind. She wants something
different. Large enough to cuddle, small enough to pick up.

I apologize for being unclear...hey, the info was in my mind, you mean you
couldn't read it? LOL...and people blame me because they aren't psychic, go
figure...

What I really need, and I saw it once but can't find it again, is a actual
search tool that lets you plug in your criterion and come out with the
perfect pet for you--- or in this case my Esther.

be well,
and thank you again,
Rachel Ann




-------Original Message-------

From: [email protected]
Date: Friday, December 20, 2002 08:39:50
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: [Unschooling-dotcom] Pet search

In a message dated 12/20/2002 5:08:22 AM Eastern Standard Time,
tuckervill@... writes:
> If you go to <A HREF="www.purina.com">www.purina.com</A>, you can use the
breed selector to help you
> choose a breed of dog that might fit your personality and lifestyle.

And go to a dog show. Look around. Find a few that you like the look
of---height, coat-length, face-shape, etc. Then talk to the breeders in
depth. Ask why you SHOULDN'T get one---what are the bad points of the breed.

They ALL have them (although of course there are always exceptions within
each breed), but they all share commonalities (we've bred them that way).

When you find one you like, talk to several breeders of that breed. Go
online
and research. Visit two or three kennels (without a purchase in mind). Look
at puppies, adults, and geriatrics. Observe them in the house (are they
quiet? do they settle down? do they stand on your head or on the dining room

table?) and outside (do they stick close or wander far from the breeder? if
there were no fence would they roam?).

Look at the WHOLE dog, not just one thing. Some folks have gotten Basenjis
because they don't bark (and ONLY because they don't bark). This is NOT your

average dog. Unless you know what else comes with the package, you'll be
VERY
disappointed.

Folks have bought Shar Peis because of the cute wrinkles. They outgrow them!
<
g>

Many people say labs/goldens are the perfect pet. I could NEVER live with
one. Too needy. Just because "everybody" has one, doen't mean they're right
for you.

Many---no, MOST people spend more time looking to buy a car (the average
"lifespan" is 5 years) than they do a living, breathing, feeling dog (who
will be a part of their family for 15 or more years). They'll debate ad
nauseum whether they should get leather or cloth, sun roof or not, blue or
green. But they'll walk into a pet store or a shelter and pick out the puppy

that runs up to them first or has the cutest eyes. It's a life-long
commitment. It shouldn't be made on the spur of the moment.

~Kelly, soapboxing, but serious


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]


~~~~ Don't forget! If you change topics, change the subject line! ~~~~

If you have questions, concerns or problems with this list, please email the
moderator, Joyce Fetteroll (fetteroll@...), or the list owner,
Helen Hegener (HEM-Editor@...).

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.


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[email protected]

I can't recall, have you ruled out a rabbit? I know you mentioned it
earlier, that it was too much money.. Is a rabbit an option now?

Teresa


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[email protected]

In a message dated 12/20/2002 8:05:22 AM Central Standard Time,
hindar@... writes:

> need to add something here...since I see a lot of people are suggesting a
> dog.
> We have family pets already, one dog,

I suggested a dog because I have no experience with any other kind of pet.
Except bettas. :)

Tuck


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[email protected]

In a message dated 12/20/2002 9:04:57 AM Eastern Standard Time,
hindar@... writes:
> I need to add something here...since I see a lot of people are suggesting a
> dog.
>

Rachel Ann, I was soapboxing because folks have mentioned dogs. And it could
benefit someone else maybe.

As for other critters, rabbits are very sweet, can be litterbox trained and
allowed the run of the house (or at least the room <g>). Again, look around
seriously. Don't go for the first one you see. There are many breeds of
rabbits---each with different characteristics. The larger rabbits tend to be
"sweeter" and more kid-friendly, but heavy; the smaller ones, more skittish
and jumpy, but easier for small hands/arms---but there are always exceptions.
Best to buy one that's been socialized with humans from the get-go. Again, go
to a rabbit show. Talk with many breeders. Get informed. Make an educated
decision, a wise choice. It's a lifelong commitment.

Rats are GREAT pets---check the archives for more info. They've been
discussed several times here. And there are TONS of websites. Check "fancy
rats", though.

Ferrets don't do much for me---but they have their fans. Illegal in some
states.

Chinchillas---I have NO experience, but they could be good. (I don't know
whether they "cuddle". Totally ignorant here.)

Generally, I'd rule out mice, gerbils, and hamsters (although I like them
all, when they get out, they're often GONE).

Any help at all?

~Kelly, the hopeless rodent fan (and we lost the second of our two ratties
day before yesterday :-( )


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[email protected]

Can a rabbit sleep on a top bunk?? I mean sleep, maybe, but get up and down?


Cats tend to sleep wherever they want to, instead of with their "owner." One
slept on me all through half of October and November and then decided to go
elsewhere for no discernable reason.

Our dog sleeps with the kid who goes to sleep last. Maybe a herding thing.
"Now that you're down, STAY down." She was chosen as a puppy by Marty, from
the pound, after we went to both county pounds and back to the first one.
She was with her mom and two littermates. He wanted a dog that wouldn't get
too big. She's bigger than her mom was. We didn't know when we picked her
what kind of dog she was until other people started saying "Oh! a blue
heeler!" Pam Hartley told me the "real" name (Australian cattle dog) so we
could look in books. Sure enough. But she's not as small as Marty had
hoped. She makes up for that by being smarter than any of us could have
imagined.

Sandra

[email protected]

In a message dated 12/20/2002 8:49:19 AM Central Standard Time,
SandraDodd@... writes:

> Can a rabbit sleep on a top bunk?? I mean sleep, maybe, but get up and
> down?
>

My son wants Ladybug to sleep on the top with him. She's a very bouncy Jack
Russell who can jump vertically about 4 1/2 feet if she wants. But she
doesn't like to jump down from the top bunk, and I think it's unfair to her
for him to get her up there and go to sleep and she has no way to get down if
she needs a drink or something. So, she sleeps on a bean bag on the floor.

Tuck


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[email protected]

In a message dated 12/20/02 9:49:22 AM Eastern Standard Time,
SandraDodd@... writes:

> (Australian cattle dog) so we
> could look in books. Sure enough. But she's not as small as Marty had
> hoped. She makes up for that by being smarter than any of us could have
> imagined.
>

Yes, those dogs are typically VERY smart.. I am on a list for homesteaders (
even though Im not one, I live vicariously through the other members. lol) ,
and one family has this breed of dogs and they "gaurd" and watch over thier
children like sheep or cattle. They even circle and "herd" the kids and
alert the parents if the kid is getting into harms way. Kind of like
Lassie.. :-)

Teresa


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[email protected]

In a message dated 12/20/02 10:12:03 AM Eastern Standard Time,
grlynbl@... writes:

> I am on a list for homesteaders

Which one?
I've been on a few and own one that nobody EVER posts at called Homeschooling
Homesteaders (or maybe Homesteading Homeschoolers? LOL)
Elissa


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Have a Nice Day!

I missed this thread..what kind of dog?

Kristen
----- Original Message -----
From: grlynbl@...
To: [email protected]
Sent: Friday, December 20, 2002 10:09 AM
Subject: Re: [Unschooling-dotcom] Pet search


In a message dated 12/20/02 9:49:22 AM Eastern Standard Time,
SandraDodd@... writes:

> (Australian cattle dog) so we
> could look in books. Sure enough. But she's not as small as Marty had
> hoped. She makes up for that by being smarter than any of us could have
> imagined.
>

Yes, those dogs are typically VERY smart.. I am on a list for homesteaders (
even though Im not one, I live vicariously through the other members. lol) ,
and one family has this breed of dogs and they "gaurd" and watch over thier
children like sheep or cattle. They even circle and "herd" the kids and
alert the parents if the kid is getting into harms way. Kind of like
Lassie.. :-)

Teresa


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]


~~~~ Don't forget! If you change topics, change the subject line! ~~~~

If you have questions, concerns or problems with this list, please email the moderator, Joyce Fetteroll (fetteroll@...), or the list owner, Helen Hegener (HEM-Editor@...).

To unsubscribe from this group, click on the following link or address an email to:
[email protected]

Visit the Unschooling website: http://www.unschooling.com

Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of Service.


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[email protected]

In a message dated 12/20/2002 10:19:42 AM Eastern Standard Time,
Earthmomma67@... writes:


> I've been on a few and own one that nobody EVER posts at called
> Homeschooling
> Homesteaders (or maybe Homesteading Homeschoolers? LOL)
>

We were busy for a while, Elissa!

~K


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[email protected]

In a message dated 12/20/02 8:12:05 AM, grlynbl@... writes:

<< and one family has this breed of dogs and they "gaurd" and watch over
thier
children like sheep or cattle. They even circle and "herd" the kids and
alert the parents if the kid is getting into harms way. Kind of like
Lassie.. :-) >>

When we go for walks, Gudrun, the dog, doesn't like for us to get separated.
Holly often goes ahead (on a bike or skates) and I walk, talking, lazily,
with whoever else. Gudrun goes back and forth, accusing me of neglect, and
trying to get me to either hurry up or call Holly back! I tell her to go on
with Holly. She often does.

My favorite communication with her ("command," but it's more like "how about
it, huh?" with her) is "go home." It's relative to where she is.

If we're a block from home and I say "go home" she runs happily to the yard
and waits for me. If we're in the yard she goes in to the house on "go
home." She's pretty wonderful.

Sandra

Sandra

Betsy

Where space and construction costs are not a big issue, one could invent
some fairly interesting pet ramps and pet staircases up to the bunk, perhaps.

Betsy

**My son wants Ladybug to sleep on the top with him. She's a very
bouncy Jack
Russell who can jump vertically about 4 1/2 feet if she wants. But she
doesn't like to jump down from the top bunk, and I think it's unfair to
her
for him to get her up there and go to sleep and she has no way to get
down if
she needs a drink or something. So, she sleeps on a bean bag on the floor.**

[email protected]

In a message dated 12/20/02 8:43:41 AM, ecsamhill@... writes:

<< Where space and construction costs are not a big issue, one could invent
some fairly interesting pet ramps and pet staircases up to the bunk, perhaps.
>>

Our "dog door" is in a single window frame next to the back door. Inside,
there's a old endtable made to go next to a low couch, so there's the bigger
table part, and the higher lamp part, and that's the "stile" from the inside.

Outside is a platform we found broken behind the bowling alley. I don't kow
what it was for. It's just basically a 2x4 table with plywood. We used to
have another box near it but the cats didnt need it and the dog got bigger.
Now that we're training our neighbor's puppy to come on in whenever he can
get off the leash, we need a step for him. He can get out, but not back in.

I was thinking of a stair of furniture for the dog to get down from the bunk
too. Maybe a high-backed upholstered chair so he could jump on the back and
then the seat. Like an old recliner, with a beanbag on a shelf behind it.
(You can imagine, my house is not decorator-approved.)

Sandra the subversive dog lover and disrespecter of traditional decor

[email protected]

In a message dated 12/20/2002 9:43:36 AM Central Standard Time,
ecsamhill@... writes:

> Where space and construction costs are not a big issue, one could invent
> some fairly interesting pet ramps and pet staircases up to the bunk,
> perhaps.
>
>

My dad built a really cool catwalk and perch up the wall in his living room.
I'm pretty certain Ladybug would and could walk up the catwalk with the right
motivation (like a cat up there on the perch). I'm glad his cats always hide
from us when we come to visit.

Anyway, Will's room is 10x10, and with the drumset and baseball paraphenalia
collection, there's barely room for his bed! But maybe someday. :)

Tuck


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[email protected]

In a message dated 12/20/2002 10:08:04 AM Central Standard Time,
SandraDodd@... writes:

> I was thinking of a stair of furniture for the dog to get down from the bunk
>
> too. Maybe a high-backed upholstered chair so he could jump on the back
> and
> then the seat. Like an old recliner, with a beanbag on a shelf behind it.
>
> (You can imagine, my house is not decorator-approved.)
>

Oh man. You would not believe the set up we had for the dogs to get in and
out of their spacious pen at our old house. We had a sunroom that closes off
from the rest of the house. They went through doggie door through the wall,
out onto a dogwalk attached to the deck, down the hatch in the dogwalk and a
stairway down to ground level, a little hop through one vent opening in
foundation of sunroom and then out the other side, into the pen. The pen was
equipped with an electric fence to prevent the leaper from getting out (which
only had to shock her once, and then was off permanently). They didn't even
have to go out in the rain to use the bathroom, since they had 400 sq feet of
covered dirt under the sunroom!

We could leave them in the sunroom for 3 days with food and water and they
would be just fine, except for missing us.

Tuck


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Mary Bianco

>From: grlynbl@...

<<We have a yellow lab name Joy.. And, she IS a joy :-) She's not needy at
all.. But she does have a LOT of energy, and labs tend to stay in the
"puppy" stage longer than other breeds>>

I second that. I've had Labs all my life. I didn't find them needy at all.
Yes they love to be around people and love attention but needy, no. They are
extremely happy all the time but I see that as a good thing. You just gotta
watch that tail. It can clear off a coffee table quicker than a two year
old!!!!!

Mary B

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[email protected]

In a message dated 12/20/02 11:09:33 PM Eastern Standard Time,
mummyone24@... writes:

> It can clear off a coffee table quicker than a two year
> old!!!!!
>
> Mary B
>
>

OH yeah, I'll second that.!

Teresa


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]