10/13/07

Puppy mania

I can't help it. I want one so bad, and who can say no to this face....


Her name is Kiel and I want her very muchly. She is a maltese. They are as hypoallergenic as puppies get.

10 comments:

Matt, Kara, Hunter and Cavan October 13, 2007 at 4:17 PM  

Wow that is a small puppy! I think my cats would eat it for breakfast!

Rob, Tina and the boys October 13, 2007 at 4:43 PM  

Just remember little puppies grow into big puppies, who poop a lot. And remember Jen's warning about how hard it is to travel with pets. :)

Anonymous October 13, 2007 at 7:08 PM  

you know, kate's dog neleah that you thought was uber-small and annoying is a maltese.... just thought i'd warn you :P

Robyn

Kate Nova October 13, 2007 at 10:32 PM  

Make friends with dog owners! Then you don't have to do the 6 a.m. walk thing, but you can still bask in their cuteness.

jen October 14, 2007 at 11:20 AM  

Maltese are tiny as dogs grow, they don't get very large at all, like no larger then the size of a cat! Therefore not nearly the pain to travel with as my 80lb malamute. These are a little easier as traveling goes, you just put them in a doggy purse and carry on. Just remember air Canada are bastards and don't take pets at all.
This is not a northern dog, so trips for a pee when it's -40 aren't going to happen, you will have to get indoor pee pads or something. Or get a ridiculously adorable snow suite for him/her!

Jackie S. Quire October 14, 2007 at 11:39 AM  

Hey all, thanks for your comments/advice.

I am pretty much sold on the idea of getting a dog, I just have to get the timing right/find the right one. I had a neighbour this summer who let me take his roomie's dog for walks all the time, and loved it. And I could really use a companion I think.

I had toyed with the idea of a larger dog for awhile, but the more I think about it, the more a smaller dog seems much more practical. First transportation-wise (except for air canada... I know the northern airlines even let pets in the cabin these days, which is nice) and also, walking/peeing wise. Also, the fact that it wouldn't get bigger than a cat TOTALLY works for me, as I wouldn't MIND a cat, but I am allergic, so that's a no-go.

I also want a pet that can't overpower me, and I am still somewhat nervous around larger dogs.

We shall see, I suppose. The dog in the photo isn't just a stock photo, it is one that is available through a breeder in Toronto, who will send it up to Iqaluit, no problem.

I am not really especially looking for champion lines or anything though, I have contacted a couple people who have Maltese pups for adoption, which would be just fine with me. I don't need the fancy schmancy papers and such.

Anyhow, we shall see re: timing and what happens.

It sure would be nice to have company though :)

Jaime October 14, 2007 at 12:29 PM  

I have to jump on the advice bandwagon because everyone else has. :P If I was in your situation, where I was trying to decide to buy an animal that requires you to go outside in freezing cold weather, I'd want to spend a winter here first because knowing how cold it is may deter you from your choice, and you may regret it once you have the dog. That said, I had a friend who owned a small dog and she only brought it outside every now and then. She trained him to pee and poop on puppy pads and it seemed to work fine.

--Jaime

jen October 14, 2007 at 1:46 PM  

Pee pads are the way to go, you don't have to go outside and it's basically like having a litter box for dogs! Maltese are the perfect size for them too! I think it's great you are getting a dog, I am the big supporter here! Just remember puppies SUCK for at least the first year, you always need to keep an eye on them! They pee and poop on EVERYTHING (including my i-pod once!), also the chewing is a major problem! Here is a saying you need to keep in mind "Dogs aren't worth their salt until age 2"! It's an investment of lots and lots of energy. BUT after all that hard work they are worth so much and are the best companions!

P.S Large dogs are often full of less attitude and obnoxiousness then smaller dogs. I have had everything between lhasa apso to great dane, and the little ones have the "tude".

towniebastard October 14, 2007 at 9:37 PM  

Just to throw in my 10 cents, I own a small dog. There are pics of him on my blog and Flickr if you want to take a look at him. He's similar to a Maltese, but probably a little bigger. He's about 11 pounds. He's also very hypo-allergic. The breed is a Coton du Tulear. Go to www.coton.ca if you want to know more about them.

Our cut-off temperature for Boo last year was around -30. Colder than that and we had a box set up for him to use inside. We also found a fleece jacket and boots for him to wear when we took him outside. I think for a bundled small dog, that's about as cold as you can go before risking the dog's health.

He really is good company for us, especially my wife who adores him. The inconveniences are minor compared to all the comfort and happiness he or she will bring.

Anonymous January 26, 2009 at 3:11 PM  

This is a Scam!!!
I fell for it.
Do not be the next victim.
They make it too good to be true. And as a normal good person you fall for it, thinking that no one could be so cruel. Well this person is horrible and will be caught. DO NOT FALL FOR THE KEIL SCAM!!!!