My husband and I recently lost our dog, tragically. He was an 8 year old purebred German Shepherd who he adopted through a breeder before we met. He paid over a thousand dollars for the puppy. I met my husband and our dog when he was two years old, and this was my first time ever living with/having a dog. Don't get me wrong, he was an AMAZING dog and I loved him so much, but I don't think my husband and I's lifestyle is/was suited for a German Shepherd.
As my husband and I grieve our loss, he has already mentioned he wants another dog again soon and has already contacted two German Shepherd breeders. These puppies would also be worth $2,000. He has mentioned in conversations before he will only own shepherds for the rest of his life.
My problems with this I've already started to mention:
-We live in a small single family home that has a small fenced backyard. We cannot afford to move to a larger property any time soon. We also have two cats.
-We live near the mountains and really enjoy the outdoors, but most weeks we can also be couch potatoes since we work exhausting jobs and are not home much.
-Our previous dog was SO expensive all around. From adopting to vet bills.
-Our purebred dog had a load of health problems, and my husband often wouldn't opt for x-rays or other big health checks, complaining because of the price. The last few years of our dog's life was hindered due to these health problems, in my opinion, my husband may disagree unfortunately.
-Lastly, luckily our dog was a good boy, but I have never liked walking a dog that is stronger than me and has one of the strongest bites. I never had a dog until I met my husband, and do not know how to train puppies, let alone one of the toughest breeds I know. Our dog never bit anyone, but I've learned if you're walking a German Shepherd and are passing by small children most parents will pick their children up/avoid out of fear...which I hate.
Since this time around it is a team decision to get a dog (remember he is still very much grieving his last dog)....how to I try and reason with my husband to consider adopting a mixed (smaller) breed from a shelter? I think it would be better for our small home and lifestyle to get a dog that's not inbred with a reputation for health issues, and a dog I feel comfortable training and walking without the risk of it overpowering me if it wants to? Our local shelter is full of young dogs that would save us over $1000 alone in just the adoption fees.
This makes my husband sound like a terrible owner and I swear he's not, but the size of the home and the lack of desire to cover health costs are the big selling points against purebred Shepherds.....AITA?
As my husband and I grieve our loss, he has already mentioned he wants another dog again soon and has already contacted two German Shepherd breeders. These puppies would also be worth $2,000. He has mentioned in conversations before he will only own shepherds for the rest of his life.
My problems with this I've already started to mention:
-We live in a small single family home that has a small fenced backyard. We cannot afford to move to a larger property any time soon. We also have two cats.
-We live near the mountains and really enjoy the outdoors, but most weeks we can also be couch potatoes since we work exhausting jobs and are not home much.
-Our previous dog was SO expensive all around. From adopting to vet bills.
-Our purebred dog had a load of health problems, and my husband often wouldn't opt for x-rays or other big health checks, complaining because of the price. The last few years of our dog's life was hindered due to these health problems, in my opinion, my husband may disagree unfortunately.
-Lastly, luckily our dog was a good boy, but I have never liked walking a dog that is stronger than me and has one of the strongest bites. I never had a dog until I met my husband, and do not know how to train puppies, let alone one of the toughest breeds I know. Our dog never bit anyone, but I've learned if you're walking a German Shepherd and are passing by small children most parents will pick their children up/avoid out of fear...which I hate.
Since this time around it is a team decision to get a dog (remember he is still very much grieving his last dog)....how to I try and reason with my husband to consider adopting a mixed (smaller) breed from a shelter? I think it would be better for our small home and lifestyle to get a dog that's not inbred with a reputation for health issues, and a dog I feel comfortable training and walking without the risk of it overpowering me if it wants to? Our local shelter is full of young dogs that would save us over $1000 alone in just the adoption fees.
This makes my husband sound like a terrible owner and I swear he's not, but the size of the home and the lack of desire to cover health costs are the big selling points against purebred Shepherds.....AITA?