Meet Twitch!

[Optimist]

Well a lot of the smell of small animal cages is a matter of keeping the cage clean. I do think male rats smell, but so do ferrets and some other animals like dogs. They have musk glands or whatever you call them.

[katrina]

Originally Posted by nikkik

Katrina, we apparently have more than our taste in orchids in commom, we currently have a 5 month old Newf puppy. I forgot about all the nipping and jumping involved with a pup, I am happy we have an older dog so I can look and see what all my hard work will produce (hopefully) in the end.

Awwwww Newfie pup!!! I so envy the cuteness and love bundle you have right now. We are empty-dog-nesters right now (we lost Huey Christmas weekend) and I truly am a tad bit jealous. I'd even love to be dealing w/the puppy antics.

BTW - Mastiff is the strongest contender for our next furry kid. I've always wanted one and I figure I better do it before I'm too old to handle a giant like that. We have also talked about the Great Dane, Irish Wolfhound, and Giant Schnauzer...but I'm very partial to the drooly, big headed, lugs. Even better...I'll just get all 4! Why not...we had 2 newfs and a shep/husky mix along w/ 4 cats at once...why not 4 big dogs and 2 cats? Well, other than the expense. HA! Well, that and the fact that we'd need to get another king sized bed just for the kids. LOL!

Sorry for the highjack Optimist. Nikki - create a thread and post pics of the pup as I'd love to see him. I truuuuuuuuuly would!

[Subrosa]

Originally Posted by katrina

Awwwww Newfie pup!!! I so envy the cuteness and love bundle you have right now. We are empty-dog-nesters right now (we lost Huey Christmas weekend) and I truly am a tad bit jealous. I'd even love to be dealing w/the puppy antics.

BTW - Mastiff is the strongest contender for our next furry kid. I've always wanted one and I figure I better do it before I'm too old to handle a giant like that. We have also talked about the Great Dane, Irish Wolfhound, and Giant Schnauzer...but I'm very partial to the drooly, big headed, lugs. Even better...I'll just get all 4! Why not...we had 2 newfs and a shep/husky mix along w/ 4 cats at once...why not 4 big dogs and 2 cats? Well, other than the expense. HA! Well, that and the fact that we'd need to get another king sized bed just for the kids. LOL!

Sorry for the highjack Optimist. Nikki - create a thread and post pics of the pup as I'd love to see him. I truuuuuuuuuly would!

If you like 'em big, consider an Anatolian Shepherd. The other breeds you mentioned are all great dogs, but the odds of one making it into double digits in age is pretty remote. Anatolians routinely live 12-14 years. My boy is 8 and still bounces when he runs.

[katrina]

Originally Posted by Subrosa

If you like 'em big, consider an Anatolian Shepherd. The other breeds you mentioned are all great dogs, but the odds of one making it into double digits in age is pretty remote. Anatolians routinely live 12-14 years. My boy is 8 and still bounces when he runs.

A friend of ours had an Anatolian quite a few years ago and he was an awesome dog. Awesome! After having the hairy beasties that require heavy, regular grooming...I would like our next to be light maintenance and the Anatolian fits that bill. From what I remember anyway. I loved them but I'm looking for "wash and wear" w/our next one (or 4). Thanks for the reminder of another great breed.

[nikkik]

Originally Posted by katrina

Awwwww Newfie pup!!! I so envy the cuteness and love bundle you have right now. We are empty-dog-nesters right now (we lost Huey Christmas weekend) and I truly am a tad bit jealous. I'd even love to be dealing w/the puppy antics.

BTW - Mastiff is the strongest contender for our next furry kid. I've always wanted one and I figure I better do it before I'm too old to handle a giant like that. We have also talked about the Great Dane, Irish Wolfhound, and Giant Schnauzer...but I'm very partial to the drooly, big headed, lugs. Even better...I'll just get all 4! Why not...we had 2 newfs and a shep/husky mix along w/ 4 cats at once...why not 4 big dogs and 2 cats? Well, other than the expense. HA! Well, that and the fact that we'd need to get another king sized bed just for the kids. LOL!

Sorry for the highjack Optimist. Nikki - create a thread and post pics of the pup as I'd love to see him. I truuuuuuuuuly would!

I will definitely create a thread on Lola. My condolences in regards to Huey.

If a Mastiff is your strongest contender for your next dog, I highly suggest you go for it. My husband and I like many other breeds, but we can't ever see ourselves being without a Mastiff. Our four year old always says, "Duke is my best buddy. I love Duke". They are just great dogs, a breeder text me last weekend letting me know she had 3 Mastiff puppies left, if I didn't currently have a puppy and 3 kids under 6 we would have definitely bought one.

[Subrosa]

Anatolians are very low maintenance most of the year, but right now I could stuff a mattress with what's coming off of him!

[Leafmite]

Optimist: Well a lot of the smell of small animal cages is a matter of keeping the cage clean. I do think male rats smell, but so do ferrets and some other animals like dogs. They have musk glands or whatever you call them.

I agree. We have the two guinea pigs currently, both male, and I need to keep after the cleaning duties so that everything stays fresh. With the two dogs (Eskimo and Maltese-Poodle), birds and guinea pigs, though, I am sure our house does smell a bit like animal, even with the plants' efforts to help. :|

[katrina]

Originally Posted by nikkik

I will definitely create a thread on Lola. My condolences in regards to Huey.

If a Mastiff is your strongest contender for your next dog, I highly suggest you go for it. My husband and I like many other breeds, but we can't ever see ourselves being without a Mastiff. Our four year old always says, "Duke is my best buddy. I love Duke". They are just great dogs, a breeder text me last weekend letting me know she had 3 Mastiff puppies left, if I didn't currently have a puppy and 3 kids under 6 we would have definitely bought one.

Thank you for the condolences. Yea, Mastiff is top of the list, for me anyway. Hubby is very partial to the northern dogs but unless he's willing to take on all the grooming (which he isn't!)...he is not going to get another northern/heavy-coated, furry kid. I've met/known several Mastiffs and loved every one of them and I've always loved the breed. Drooling and all! Those big lug faces...what's not to love?!

Originally Posted by Subrosa

Anatolians are very low maintenance most of the year, but right now I could stuff a mattress with what's coming off of him!

That's the way our shep/husky mix was. Well, she shed a lot all year (like a lab) but in the early summer her coat would "blow out" and the amount of hair that came out of her always made me wonder how she wasn't bald. To look at her, it didn't seem like she had enough hair to shed like she did because she looked smooth but she had the double coat and she would shed out in puff balls. Literally, I would pluck her daily and I would get enough out of her to make another dog - every day. Amazing. I don't remember the shedding w/our friend's Anatolian so I'm glad you mentioned it.

[No-Pro-mwa]

Congrats on the new addition. I'm sure with age he will calm down.

All 4 of mine are short hair. I'm not sure I could deal with long hair as much as some of mine shed. I look at it as I am helping the birds. They do love to use it as nesting material.

After my girls had passed, they were my basset sisters. I wanted to try a large dog, and so I got Marlo my bull mastiff, but she is quiet small for the breed. I would love to try a Great Dane, an Irish Wolfhound a Mastiff, oh way to many to list. but one on my upper list is a Neapolitan Mastiff, so cool. But I think they are ruining them making them so wrinkly and cumbersome.