ONTD

me too she's likable

So close to perf taste, but that like needs to be turned up a few notches bb!!

Omg this is terrible

omg

OT do you happen to have E.M.D.'s 1st album/A State Of Mind in hq? Cause I can't find a link to save my life rn :/

whenever it comes on i involuntarily start shaking it

Sleazy and Cannibal are the two songs I'll never get tired of

I can't twerk in the slightest and I still let my body do it's own thang when Sleazy comes on

it got a great review from NPR, which is when I knew it was probably decent and wouldn't do well.

I hear C'Mon a lot on the radio so fingers crossed that it grabs everyones attention as it gets closer to summer!!!!!!

It's only fitting

the pause after is making me lol

Omg I loved this interview/thingy sfm

First of all, adopt, don't buy :) And second, look into breeds/sizes to make you sure you can attend to their needs - and not mess up yours in the process. For example, if you live in a small house, get a dog that doesn't need much space. If you don't have enough time to be with the dog, get one that's not too energetic and won't need to go for a walk every single day and so on. :)

you don't have to take your dog to a trainer or do anything extensive, but even teaching the dog "tricks" like sit, lay down, rollover, etc are really helpful in raising them to be a good dog.

it's fun for them, and dogs naturally like pleasing their masters, but at the same time they're learning to listen to you.

I would get an adult dog who is already house-trained from a rescue. Puppies are cute, but the puppy stage and training is frustrating and takes a lot of time, especially for a new owner. Puppies can't be left at home all day and need to be let out at regular intervals. You don't know what the puppy will be like as an adult.

Look for a dog that will fit your activity level. Do you want a dog who will hike and run with you or do you want a dog that will lay and around and watch TV with you? (Or something in between.) There are some breed-specific traits (working breeds need to be trained and given a job or they will drive you crazy, for example; greyhounds sleep a lot and then need an hour or so of running around and then they sleep some more) that can serve as guidelines, but it comes down to the individual dog. Try to talk to the people who are fostering the dog within the rescue, too. Also, consider the realistic time you have for the dog and the money you have available to spend on the dog (do you have time and money for regular grooming of a poodle mix, for example). When you look at pictures or go to rescue events, don't be locked into a specific look for a dog. Personality is most important. Tell the rescue what you are looking for in a dog and let them give you some suggestions on who would fit. Make sure it is a reputable rescue/shelter (only adopts out neutered/spayed pets, non-profit, will work with you to solve any issues, etc.). Sometimes, it seems like dog will choose you.

I would take the dog to a reputable training class, as much as for you as for the dog. It will teach you to communicate with the dog. I woud also have an appropriate-sized crate for the dog as soon as it comes home for crate training. Crate training is good for the dog.

I volunteer with a rescue, which is why I wrote so much. :)

Greyhounds seem to be have the biggest reputation for being couch potatoes. They also are generally really quiet and rarely bark. There are dedicated greyhound rescues that rehome dogs that were raced. Bulldogs and pugs seem to be low-energy, but at the risk of being hated on by fans of the breeds, I would advise against these, because they often have a lot of health issues. A pug mix may be worth looking into - it may have some of the personality, but enough genetic variety to overcome the health issues. Some pitt bull-types are lovable couch potatoes, but that will depend on the individual personality. I personally love labs and golden retrievers and the ones I have known have been docile and lower-energy, but that isn't a rule. I would definitely consider a lab mix.

I would just google dog breed personalities and find reputable sources. Also, let that only serve as a guideline. Just learn overall what the dogs were bred for and you'll get somewhat of idea of an overall personality (sight hounds vs working dogs vs. protection dogs, etc). Two examples: my parents have a hound who is so stubborn, runs off on her own (on my parents' property), does her own thing and barks a lot. Her breed would run ahead of the hunters on their own, chasing the prey and not giving up, not being told how to chase by the hunters and barking so the hunters could follow them. My parents also have a lab. He is smart, companionable, responds to commands, wants to go where my dad goes and communicates with with him well. His breed was bred to stay with the hunter and retrieve the prey at the command of the hunter. Does that make sense?

But - big, big BUT - the individual dog will trump all of that, training is important and there are great dogs in rescues that are simply mutts. I wouldn't get locked in one breed, but just get some knowledge that could guide you.

Other things - petfinder.com and petango.com are good sources to find local rescues and dogs. Compile a list of questions you would want to know about the dog (examples: house-trained? leash-trained? crate-trained? How much exercise does the dog get/need? Any phobias/health issues? Good with cats/kids/men/strangers/etc?)


Edited at 2013-02-17 09:31 pm (UTC)

mte. I'm so proud that I became obsessed with her right off the bat and still am today. Especially the way she embraces life and herself in every way possible. I think it's super important in todays world.