Follow up on Question About Puppy

Wait, what? Is this really a legit parenting question? I guess I'm a little confused...this site is to get opinions that are different from what we are already doing. Right? If we all knew everything, we wouldn't be on a site for advice. So you asked a question, people gave you their advice, and you want to rub their noses in it that it was "wrong"? Interesting.

I responded based on our experience. We see the top allergist on this side of the country. My child's allergies are that bad. So when I wrote a response to your original post, I answered with what I thought was relevant information. I meant to be helpful. He said no dog is considered hypo allergic. That the term is misleading and truly allergic people will still react. Now, perhaps your child and husband are not as allergic as my child or the ones he treats. He sees the bad cases. The kind where my child could have gone in for weekly shots. So that's my frame of reference.

I don't think that makes me a "naysayer". I think it's a bit rude to lump every response that didn't agree with you as one.

The reason schnauzers are better than most dogs, is because they don't typically drool and produce less dander. But it depends on the person. My son still reacts. That is why they recommend (and I passed this along in my advice) that each person test a dog out.

Glad it worked out for you. As a parent with allergic kids, I do my research too - and don't just rely on a mom site. So please don't be overly critical.

glad your schnauzer worked out. i've heard good things about them too from the allergy perspective.
as for your return just to preen and nyah nyah the 'naysayers', if you want professional opinions about dog breeds, go to a dog breeder forum. the only responses you can possibly get here are personal experiences, and that's what you got. sucks to be you if you let them fluff you up so badly.
mini schnauzers won't get a bad name because some people on a parenting forum aren't crazy about them. but future questions will continue to be answered here as they always are, through our personal experiences, some of which won't be all sweet and shiny.
i hope you enjoyed your little neener moment.
khairete
S.

That's great! I personally have never met a dog I am not allergic to however. Even so called hypoallergenic dogs cause me to react. Your husband and daughter sound either very lucky or perhaps they are not "very allergic."

I'm glad you are so happy with your dog and that everyone is doing well with him. How lucky that you are able to walk him 2 miles a day and that he house trained so easily. It's just great that you have had no problems.

That said, you got lucky. There is no such thing as a hypoallergenic dog, my dear, although there are quite a few with a single (vs. double) coat and which she less or almost not at all. And so you got lucky, that your husband's and child's allergies are not connected to the dog. You got lucky that the dog enjoys such long walks, housebroke early, doesn't need a crate, and has a personality that absolutely the entire word enjoys. It is SHEER LUCK and while I'm happy for you, it doesn't require you to be quite so self-righteous. You came here asking for advice, and you got it. Nobody was trying to create problems for you, just help you navigate the difficulties and weigh the risks, which is kind of what you needed. You didn't seem to know much about the breed, the 'breeder' or the issues involved in raising a dog. Hopefully (even if you won't admit it), the advice prepared you for some possibilities, or at least helped some other readers who might not have considered certain possible outcomes in their own lives (which of course is one of the main benefits and purposes of Mamapedia). If this had NOT worked out for you, what was your back-up plan, for example? Would you have given the dog back? Have you, and others, considered how traumatic it is for a dog to be re-homed? It's not a gerbil or a goldfish - it forms attachments and bonds, and when those are broken, it can be very stressful for the animal. So people with questions and risk factors (like allergies, lack of experience) need to be made aware of these things.

I, like others, spent a lot of time crafting my answer to HELP you. If you ignored the advice you got, that's one thing. But to come back here and slap people in the face with what Suz rightly called the "nyah nyah" tone, well, that was a huge mistake. I can't imagine that many people will consider you a supportive member of this community or someone really willing to think enough to help another member with a problem. I think you'll have a hard time getting help for any future concerns/needs you have, and I'm not sure that people like me will value your advice on any issues we might have. I hope I'm wrong about that, but really, can you blame me?

ETA - Just read your "So What Happened" - and I think it's very unfair to suggest that the members of this forum are driving people away. I think the surest way to discourage new members is to suggest in your post that everyone here is a nay-sayer and a Negative Nancy! That's a very unfair representation of the vast majority of Mamapedia members! Any new person coming on to read your post, thinking it's about dogs, would be quite dismayed to wade into this morass of blanket criticism. Any public forum is going to have a few people who are difficult, but painting the overall membership, many of whom have been on here for years, with one critical brush is really not the reality! I hope you will stay with Mamapedia, and that you will refrain from such comments in the future. Let's move forward, shall we?

I didn't answer your first question because a lot of how a dog fits into your family depends on your family dynamic, the dog's personality, and the time and energy you spend training and socializing. I'm glad things are working out well for you and you have a great buddy for your walks.

Good for you Tally. I'm still not a big fan of Schnauzers.

Glad it worked out for you but I still wouldn't have a schnauzer if you paid me.

I am glad that your furbaby fits your family.

The allergy question posed in the recent question I believe was about a cat. The dander on them is a bit different than a dog.

My son seems to be the only one that is/was allergic to our cat the rest of the family was/is fine. My kitty passed over the rainbow bridge this August. So in the next few months I will be finding a new companion or two to our home. The puppy/kitty thing was something that might have happened in our home but I am not home all day to train them. Hubby is home and due to his physical and medical issues a dog would not work too well as I never know when I might have to go back to hospital with him and then I would need a sitter for a dog. A cat you can leave a few days and come back without too much problem.

the other S.

I'm so glad things worked out so well!! I don't remember your question but I might have been a person who was negative about schnauzers. Our neighbors have two and they are very hyper, bark constantly, and bite. Both our kids have been bitten multiple times. So my opinion of them is that they are very high strung and can be aggressive. I know there are wonderful schnauzers out there, but I personally would be wary of them. Giving your dog so much exercise is perfect...you sound like you are a really good dog owner. By the way, have you read the amazing book Following Atticus? It's good...you'd love it. -----Hmmm, just read your SWH and then read the other responses. They weren't that bad. Anyway, enjoy your doggie.